The role of sex hormones in the mechanism of inhibited LH release in female patients with anorexia nervosa

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Abstract
To elucidate the mechanism of impaired LH [luteinizing hormone] secretion, 60 female patients with anorexia nervosa were investigated. A control group consisted of 14 women of the same age, examined in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. The serum LH, FSH, prolactin, TSH, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, .DELTA. 4-androstenedione, estrone, estradiol, estriol, progesterone, thyroxine, triiodothyronine [T3], reverse T3 and serum sex hormone binding globulin (ShBG) concentrations were measured. The results showed a significant increase in serum dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone, estriol and reverse T3 concentrations. However, estrone, estradiol, progesterone, SHBG and T3 levels were significantly lower than those of the control group. The mean serum LH concentration in patients with anorexia nervosa before and after LHRH stimulation was significantly lower than that in the control group, but FSH secretion in response to LHRH was normal. All hormonal changes in anorexia nervosa disappeared after weight gain during cyproheptadine treatment. Dramatically increased dehydroepiandrosterone levels suggest that the high testosterone in women with anorexia nervosa is derived from adrenal rather than from gonadal steroids. There was no correlation between serum testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, estriol and LH concentrations indicating that steroid hormone disturbances do not cause impaired LH release in anorexia nervosa.