Abstract
Seven patients with anorexia nervosa were studied, three during the acute stages of the illness, and four in whom weight gain had been achieved, but who suffered from persistent amenorrhoea of 18 to 79 months' duration.
In the acute stage all patients had low serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels which were unresponsive to clomiphene citrate. In those who had regained weight the mean basal LH levels were normal, and they responded to clomiphene with an initial doubling of serum LH during administration of the drug, followed by a second peak of serum LH four to seven days after the drug was stopped. Menstruation occurred in these patients 13 to 19 days after the clomiphene was discontinued, and in two patients regular spontaneous menstruation was initiated.
The low LH levels unresponsive to clomiphene in the acute stage provide evidence for a hypothalamic abnormality in anorexia nervosa. After regain of body weight the drug seems to be effective in treating the amenorrhoea which may be persistent.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- BLISS E. L., MIGEON C. J. Endocrinology of anorexia nervosa. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1957 Jun;17(6):766–776. doi: 10.1210/jcem-17-6-766. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bardin C. W., Ross G. T., Lipsett M. B. Site of action of clomiphene citrate in men: a study of the pituitary-Leydig cell axis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1967 Nov;27(11):1558–1564. doi: 10.1210/jcem-27-11-1558. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bell E. T., Harkness R. A., Loraine J. A., Russell G. F. Hormone assay studies in patients with anorexia nervosa. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh) 1966 Jan;51(1):140–148. doi: 10.1530/acta.0.0510140. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Crisp A. H., Stonehill E. Relation between aspects of nutritional disturbance and menstrual activity in primary anorexia nervosa. Br Med J. 1971 Jul 17;3(5767):149–151. doi: 10.1136/bmj.3.5767.149. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Jacobson A., Marshall J. R., Ross G. T., Cargille C. M. Plasma gonadotropins during clomiphene induced ovulatory cycles. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1968 Sep 15;102(2):284–290. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(68)90331-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- KAY D. W., LEIGH D. The natural history, treatment and prognosis of anorexia nervosa, based on a study of 38 patients. J Ment Sci. 1954 Apr;100(419):411–431. doi: 10.1192/bjp.100.419.411. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- KEMSLEY W. F. F. Body weight at different ages and heights. Ann Eugen. 1952 May;16(4):316–334. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-1809.1951.tb02484.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Marshall J. C., Anderson D. C., Burke C. W., Galvao-Teles A., Fraser T. R. Elevation of luteinizing hormone, testosterone and cortisol in men taking clomiphene citrate. J Endocrinol. 1970 Dec;48(4):xxxix–xl. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Vaitukaitis J. L., Bermudez J. A., Cargille C. M., Lipsett M. B., Ross G. T. New evidence for an anti-estrogenic action of clomiphene citrate in women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1971 Apr;32(4):503–508. doi: 10.1210/jcem-32-4-503. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Yen S. S., Vela P., Ryan K. J. Effect of clomiphene citrate in polycystic ovary syndrome: Relationship between serum gonadotropin and corpus luteum function. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1970 Jul;31(1):7–13. doi: 10.1210/jcem-31-1-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]