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A study of bone density change in patients with anorexia nervosa
Author(s) -
Carmo Isabel do,
Mascarenhas Mário,
Macedo Ana,
Silva Armanda,
Santos Inês,
Bouça Dulce,
Myatt John,
Sampaio Daniel
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
european eating disorders review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.511
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1099-0968
pISSN - 1072-4133
DOI - 10.1002/erv.812
Subject(s) - anorexia nervosa , amenorrhea , osteoporosis , medicine , eating disorders , densitometry , femoral neck , bone density , menstruation , pediatrics , metabolic bone disease , femur , menstrual cycle , bone disease , anorexia , hip fracture , physical therapy , surgery , psychiatry , hormone , pregnancy , biology , genetics
In patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) several factors combine to cause osteoporosis, and the risk of osteoporosis increases with chronicity of illness. The authors carried out a follow‐up study in patients who attended the Eating Disorders department of the Hospital de Santa Maria. The average follow‐up period was of 7.6 years. Fifteen patients were included. Patients answered clinical history questions and underwent neck of femur and spine densitometry. The most important variable with negative correlations to bone recovery was disease duration. A positive correlation between bone recovery and time since the first menstrual cycle post‐amenorrhea was also found. However, AN is a condition in which once weight improves and menstrual cycles become regular, severe damage to bone structure is still likely to be maintained. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.