Prolactin secretion in anorexia nervosa

Twenty-nine anorectic female patients were subdivided in three groups: group I when primary amenorrhoea; group II when secondary amenorrhoea together with a weight (for their height) equal or above the 10th percentile of the ratio of total water over body weight (TW/B Wt); group III when secondary amenorrhoea was associated with a weight below this 10th percentile. Despite very low mean oestradiol levels (respectively 22, 36 and 32 pg/ml), prolactin secretion remained normal both in basal conditions as well as after 200 micrograms TRH iv. For group III patients, a delay in the peak prolactin response to TRH was observed but it was not statistically significant.