Clinical Profiles of New Patients with Anorexia Nervosa in 1999

The clinical profiles of 60 new patients with anorexia nervosa who visited Department of Medicine of Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital in 1999 were studied. The age of onset was 11.9～38.5 yrs (mean 18.1 yrs) and the age at initial examination at our department was 12.7～40.5 yrs (mean 20.8 yrs). All patients were female. Three patients started dieting due to Graves' disease or glucocorticoid treatment. Health problems first became evident in 68% of patients in the spring or summer, a time when stressful events frequently occur in the school or work life of Japanese people. Menstruation discontinued in 42% of patients before or in the same month when they experienced weight loss. The abnormal physical findings were thick lanugo, constipation, carotenosis, hypotension, bradycardia, enlargement of parotid glands, pretibial edema, neural paralysis and a callus on the back of hands. Abnormal laboratory findings were neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, increased transaminase, hyperamylasenemia, hypokalemia, hypoglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, decreased bone mineral density, decreased serum levels of triiodotyronine or insulin-like growth factor-I, and increased plasma levels of growth hormone. To avoid unnecessary clinical tests and the injurious diet therapy, we recommend that a standard information pack about anorexia nervosa is distributed to general physicians