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Predictors of menstrual resumption by patients with anorexia nervosa

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective: To investigate which factors predict the resumption of menstruation by patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). METHODS: Participants were AN patients who, even after weight recovery by inpatient treatment, had prolonged amenorrhea (N=11), AN patients who resumed menstruation after weight recovery (N=9), and age-matched healthy controls (N=12). Anthropometric data and the serum levels of leptin, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1), cortisol, luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and other hormones were measured at the beginning of the inpatient treatment and after weight recovery. RESULTS: Of the baseline anthropometric and hormonal factors, logistic regression analysis extracted a high serum cortisol level as a predictor of the inhibition of the resumption of menstruation. After weight recovery, the E2 and leptin levels were significantly higher for eumenorrheic patients than for amenorrheic patients. CONCLUSION: The baseline serum cortisol level was a predictor of the prolonged inhibition of menstrual recovery.

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Arimura, C., Nozaki, T., Takakura, S. et al. Predictors of menstrual resumption by patients with anorexia nervosa. Eat Weight Disord 15, e226–e233 (2010). https://doi.org/10.3275/7039

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