PATTERNS OF URINARY PEPTIDE-PROTEIN COMPLEXES IN PATIENTS DIAGNOSED AS ANOREXIA NERVOSA

ABSTRACT Hyperfunction of the CNS may result in overflow of neuropeptides into CSF and urine. Urinary peptide-protein precipitates from patients with psychiatric disorders were previously observed to have different chromatographic profiles. Like most descriptive diagnostic syndromes anorexia nervosa includes a heterogeneous group of patients, and we suggested that this method could be used as a biochemical classification. The urinary peptide-protein complexes from 140 patients diagnosed as anorexia nervosa were precipitated by benzoic acid, and chromatographed on a Sephadex G-25 gel column. There appeared 5 different patterns of chromatograms, corresponding well with the psychopathological features observed in the patients with a particular profile. A primary “hypothalamic” pattern was observed in 37 patients who had the typical psychopathology for anorexia nervosa. The others were considered to have secondary types of anorexia nervosa, although all had several features in common. A hysteriform pattern was observed in 42 patients. They were extroverted, acting, wilful, scheming, inconsiderate, malevolent, lazy, and played truant. An autistic pattern was observed in 31 girls, and a schizophreniform pattern in 10 girls. These two groups had several features in common: introversion, emotional aplanation, silent, and depressive. A normal pattern was observed in 20 girls, considered to be a mixed group with neurosis, often induced by emotional trauma. Generally those with a secondary type of anorexia nervosa were more inclined to accept drug treatment. In our hands the chromatographic profiles have been of diagnostic importance, and a clue in choice of treatment.