[Synthetic PH-RH as a pituitary function test in anorexia nervosa]

The hypophyseal gonadotrophin LH reserve was studied in 9 adult women, 5 of whom were suffering from nervous anorexia (N.A.) and 4 normal, by means of subcutaneous injection of 50 mcg of synthetic GN-RH. Basal values of plasmatic LH proved to be significantly lower in N.A. than in the controls where the response to GN-RH was prompt. In patients with N.A., on the other hand, response was practically absent and differences were significant at all stages of the test. The parallel study of basal steroiduria and following methopirone confirmed the torpid hypophyseal response in N.A. These findings confirm previous personal reports and indicate that the GN-RH test is a useful technique for diagnostic and prognostic definition of N.A.