Hypertransaminasemia and hypophosphoremia in an adolescent with anorexia nervosa: an event to watch for

Ital J Pediatr. 2016 May 17;42(1):49. doi: 10.1186/s13052-016-0258-3.

Abstract

Background: Anorexia Nervosa is a Psychiatric eating disorder of adolescence age with a high morbidity and mortality.

Case presentation: We describe a common case of anorexia nervosa (AN) in a female adolescent complicated by less known conditions related to refeeding syndrome. At admission, the girl showed a mild hypercholesterolemia with progressive normalization of the values. The initial low hypertransaminasemia worsened after refeeding until very high levels and hypophosphoremia was also described. Only a controlled caloric intake and a specific electrolyte supplementation led to the improvement of hematologic values and the clinical condition of the patient.

Conclusions: Refeeding complications must be always suspected because of life-threatening risk. More attention should be paid not only to the acute state of the disease but also to the prevention and the management of refeeding-related manifestations.

Keywords: Anorexia nervosa; Hypercholesterolemia in AN; Hypertransaminasemia in AN; Refeeding syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anorexia Nervosa / complications*
  • Anorexia Nervosa / diagnosis
  • Anorexia Nervosa / therapy*
  • Energy Intake
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Hypophosphatemia / etiology*
  • Hypophosphatemia / physiopathology
  • Refeeding Syndrome / etiology*
  • Refeeding Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Risk Assessment
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Transaminases / blood*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Weight Gain

Substances

  • Transaminases