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Query: UMLS:C0038187 (starvation)
 24,951 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Anorexia nervosa is associated with multiple endocrine abnormalities. Hypothalamic neuropeptides and monoamines are involved in the regulation of human appetite, and they are changed in several ways in anorexia nervosa. But it remains to be clarified whether these alterations are secondary or etiologic. Feeding behaviour in anorexia nervosa is characterised by a strong ambivalence and not by loss of appetite. Hypothalamic amenorrhea is a diagnostic criterion, and is not only secondary as it often precedes the weight loss and persists for a long time after weight and motor activity have returned to normal. Hypersecretion of corticotropin releasing hormone seems to be secondary to starvation, but at the same time it may keep up and intensify the anorexia, physical hyperactivity and amenorrhea. Low production of insulinlike growth factor-I and high growth hormone secretion reflects the nutritional deprivation. In conclusion most of the neuroendocrine abnormalities are secondary to weight loss, but some of them seem to participate in a circulus vitiosus and maintain the emaciated state.
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PMID:[Neuroendocrine disorders in anorexia nervosa--primary or secondary?]. 899 10

Anorexia nervosa is a syndrome of unknown etiology. It is associated with multiple endocrine abnormalities. Hypothalamic monoamines (especially serotonin), neuropeptides (especially neuropeptide Y and cholecystokinin) and leptin are involved in the regulation of human appetite, and in several ways they are changed in anorexia nervosa. However, it remains to be clarified whether the altered appetite regulation is secondary or etiologic. Increased secretion of corticotropin-releasing hormone and proopiomelanocortin seems to be secondary to starvation, however, there is evidence that it may maintain and intensify anorexia, excessive physical activity and amenorrhea. Hypothalamic amenorrhea, which is a diagnostic criterion in anorexia nervosa, is not solely related to the low body weight and exercise. Growth hormone resistance with low production of insulin-like growth factor I and high growth hormone secretion reflect the nutritional deprivation. The nutritional therapy of patients with anorexia nervosa might be improved by administering an anabolic agent such as growth hormone or insulin-like growth factor I. So far none of the endocrine abnormalities have proved to be primary, however, there is increasing evidence that some of these might participate in a vicious circle.
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PMID:A review of endocrine changes in anorexia nervosa. 1022 46

Anorexia nervosa is a syndrome with multifactorial etiology in which several genetic, biologic, psychological and social factors are involved. Patients affected by anorexia nervosa (AN) may develop multiple endocrine abnormalities, e.g. amenorrhea, hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis hyperactivity, low T3 syndrome and peculiar changes of somatotroph axis function. These endocrine abnormalities are also found after prolonged starvation and may represent an adaptive response developed in order to save energy and proteins. It is still a matter of debate whether these endocrine changes are etiologic or secondary. In fact, several evidences suggest the existence in AN of hypothalamus functional alterations, which may be involved in the development and maintenance of the food intake disorder; on the other hand, the increased CRH secretion seems to be secondary to malnutrition as well as GH hypersecretion coupled to low IGF-I levels; the latter is a common finding in AN, as well as in other undernutrition and malabsorption conditions, type 1 diabetes mellitus, liver cirrhosis and catabolic states. Hypothalamic amenorrhea, which is one of the diagnostic criteria for AN, is not linked only to the reduction of body weight but reflects also deep alterations of gonadotropin secretory pattern. Low T3 syndrome is frequently found in AN; on the other hand, an iodide-induced hypothyroidism is quite uncommon. T3 reduction in AN seems to be an adaptive response to prolonged starvation; however the presence of a simultaneous central dysregulation cannot be excluded. Finally, AN patients frequently show defects in urinary concentration or dilution with inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone, which may be due to intrinsic defects in the neurohypophysis or to abnormalities of its regulatory afferent neurons.
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PMID:[Endocrine abnormalities in anorexia nervosa]. 1271 47