Treatment of undernutrition and electrolyte disturbances in anorexia nervosa

Medical care of undernutrition and hydro-electrolytic disturbances in anorexia-nervosa differs according to the stage of weight loss, as appreciates through "corpulence index". In each case, it will depend on a precise appreciation of biological data, mainly hydro-electrolytic ones. One has to particularly stress the frequence of hypochloremic-hypokalemic alkalosis which must be treated by isotonic saline perfusion till the normalisation of plasma electrolytes. Refeeding can be achieved either by oral, parenteral or nasogastric tube: this last method being, in our hand, the most successful. The results of short-term treatment is often good; however the prognosis of long term treatment largely depends on the specific care for psychological disturbances.