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Plasma levels of luteinizing hormone and of immunoreactive oestrogens (oestradiol) in anorexia nervosa: response to clomiphene citrate1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

P. J. V. Beumont ,
P. J. Carr  and
M. G. Gelder
P. J. V. Beumont*
Affiliation:
From the Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford
P. J. Carr
Affiliation:
From the Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford
M. G. Gelder
Affiliation:
Littlemore Hospital, Oxford
*
2 Address for correspondence: Department of Psychaitry, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, Cape Town.
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Synopsis

In a study of 11 patients with anorexia nervosa, plasma levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and of oestrogens (oestradiol) were found to be low while the subjects were emaciated. After weight gain, hormone values rose and two patients spontaneously resumed menstruation. Clomiphene citrate was administered on one or more occasions to five patients, and bleeding was induced in the majority of those whose weight exceeded 80% of standard. In two of these patients an irregular cycle resumed for a brief period thereafter. Clomiphene appeared to be of limited practical value in the mangement of patients with anorexia nervosa, but the study provided some elucidation of the relationship between body weight and the menstrual disturbance in this condition.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 3 , Issue 4 , November 1973 , pp. 495 - 501
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1973

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Footnotes

1

This work was supported by the Medical Research Council, Grant G 970/227

References

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