Altered gastric emptying and secretion in primary anorexia nervosa

Abstract Primary anorexia nervosa (PAN) is an important psychiatric disease with a 7–21% mortality rate. Although altered gastrointestinal function may be an important aspect of its pathophysiology, no information is available concerning gastric emptying and secretion in those patients. During fasting, fractional emptying rates and hydrogen ion (H + ) output were decreased twofold in PAN, as compared with healthy controls, and fluid output was slightly but not significantly decreased. Pentagastrin-induced peak stimulation of H + output in PAN was 64% of that found in controls (P + and fluid output were not significantly modified following weight gain.