[Hormonal profile in anorexia nervosa under control. Correlations with various somatic factors]

In order to precise the hormonal pattern of Anorexia Nervosa (AN) at its state phase, we assessed serum estradiol (E2), triiodothyronine (T3), LH and FSH, the maximum increments of their response to 100 microgram LHRH (delta LH and delta FSH) and the ratio of these increments (delta LH/delta FSH). These data were compared with those obtained in 10 normal women assessed at the early follicular phase (Student's test). Furthermore in 20 cases, we assessed LH and FSH during 5 days after a 20 mg IV injection of PREMARIN. E2, T3, LH and FSH are often decreased in AN. On the average, this decrease is very significant for the 3 first ones (p less than 0.001), and slightly significant for FSH (p less than 0,05). The LHRH-response is variable, with an inversion of the LH/FSH ratio as before the puberty in 56% of the cases. On the average, FSH-response is increased (p less than 0,05), and LH-response is normal. The response is delayed for the both gonadotropins. After PREMARIN, the 2 gonadotropins rarely clearly decrease (twice for LH and 5 times for FSH). There is a LH peak only in 3 cases. In order to specify the origin of these anomalies, we searched correlations between 11 hormonal data and some somatic parameters : weight, time, menstrual antecedents. We found 26 statistically significant correlations (12 times p less than 0,05- 5 times p less than 0,001- 9 times p less than 0,001). The following correlations are significant : E2 and LH, E2 and the maximal decrease of LH after PREMARIN (negative correlation), T3 and FSH, delta LH, and delta FSH, duration of the amenorrhea and T3, FSH and delta FSH, the weight and delta LH, the weight and delta LH/delta FSH, weight/height and delta LH/delta FSH, the menstrual antecedents and FSH. So, somatic factors strongly influence the hormonal pattern at the AN-state phase. The weight-decrease, the T3-decrease, and above all the E2-decrease which is independent of the previous ones seem to be the determining elements of the AN-hormonal pattern at this phase.