Assessment of the frequency of hormonal disorders of the gonads and bone mineral density among women treated for anorexia nervosa in adolescence

Introduction: There are very few studies evaluating the activity of gonads in women treated for anorexia nervosa (AN) in adolescence, and reports on the bone mineral density in such patients are divergent. Objective Assessment of the incidence of gonadal hormonal function disorders and reduction of bone mineral density in women treated for AN in adolescence.

Material and methods: Out of 97 women who had participated in a survey study, 56 reported personally to the clinic. Their somatic condition, body weight, and BMI were evaluated, as well as levels of oestradiol, LH, FSH in blood serum were determined and DEXA scans were performed.

Results: The average period of hospitalisation until the time of the study was 7.08 ±4.47 years. BMI was as follows: 20.01 ±3.6 kg/m2. 25% women were still sick, 75% were considered cured. In 17.9% of the study subjects hypogonadotropic hy-pogonadism was diagnosed. Abnormal results of the densitometric scan were confirmed in 85.7% of the study subjects. In the group of women with normal body weight only 19% had normal levels of bone mineral density.

Conclusions: 1. In almost 18% of women treated for AN in adolescence, disorders of the hormonal function of gonads persist, despite normal body weight in 50% of them. 2. Bone mineral density is reduced in most women treated for AN, which indicates the need to monitor the condition of the bones, an early introduction of prevention of osteopenia and osteoporosis since the onset of AN in order to prevent bone fractures in adulthood.