Altered Prolactin Response in Anorexia Nervosa

In females amenorrhea is essential for diagnosis of anorexia nervosa (AN)6. Even though AN is accompanied by a variety of endocrine disturbances such as reduced sex steroid levels 5, reduced basal serum gonadotropins18, disminished response of gonadotropins to luteinizing hormone, releasing hormone (LHRH)4, alterations in growth hormone and cortisol levels 12, low serum, triiodothyronine values and blunted thyrotropin response to thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH)15, it is generally believed that the prolactin (PRL) response to stimulation is not altered in this disorder4. Basal serum PRL has been reported to be normal3,11 or slightly diminished8, and PRL values after TRH stimulation were found to be normal by most investigators4,21.