The Medical Complications of Anorexia Nervosa

1993 ◽  
Vol 162 (4) ◽  
pp. 452-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. W. Sharp ◽  
C. P. L. Freeman
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Cardiovascular Complications ◽  
Medical Complications ◽  
Intravenous Hyperalimentation ◽  
Severe Weight Loss ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Electrolyte Abnormalities

The physical complications of anorexia nervosa are common and can be life threatening, but psychiatrists and the increasing number of non-medical therapists involved in treatment programmes often overlook these complications. Cardiovascular complications are the most common, and the most likely to result in fatalities, particularly in those patients who vomit, purge or abuse diuretics, because of the electrolyte abnormalities induced. Osteoporosis is an early and perhaps irreversible consequence of severe weight loss. Further, there are dangers in rapid intravenous hyperalimentation.

Cardiac changes in anorexia nervosa

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 623-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Spaulding-Barclay ◽  
Jessica Stern ◽  
Philip S. Mehler
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Treatment Outcome ◽  
Eating Disorder ◽  
Medical Complications ◽  
Cardiac Complications ◽  
Successful Treatment Outcome ◽  
Comprehensive Literature Review ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Weight Restoration

AbstractIntroductionAnorexia nervosa is an eating disorder, which is associated with many different medical complications as a result of the weight loss and malnutrition that characterise this illness. It has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder. A large portion of deaths are attributable to the cardiac abnormalities that ensue as a result of the malnutrition associated with anorexia nervosa. In this review, the cardiac complications of anorexia nervosa will be discussed.MethodsA comprehensive literature review on cardiac changes in anorexia nervosa was carried out.ResultsThere are structural, functional, and rhythm-type changes that occur in patients with anorexia nervosa. These become progressively significant as ongoing weight loss occurs.ConclusionCardiac changes are inherent to anorexia nervosa and they become more life-threatening and serious as the anorexia nervosa becomes increasingly severe. Weight restoration and attention to these cardiac changes are crucial for a successful treatment outcome.

scholarly journals Pituitary Adenoma Presenting as Anorexia Nervosa: A Case Report

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-59
Author(s):  
S. Dhungana ◽  
S.P. Ojha ◽  
M. Chapagai ◽  
P. Tulachan
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Body Image ◽  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Case Report ◽  
Pituitary Adenoma ◽  
Severe Weight Loss ◽  
Intracranial Lesions ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Distorted Body Image

Anorexia nervosa is a syndrome characterized by severe weight loss and preoccupation of distorted body image with resulting complications due to starvation. In most of the typical cases of anorexia nervosa, neuroimaging is not done. However, with increasing evidence of intracranial lesions associated with eating disorders including anorexia nervosa, neuroimaging is indicated in almost all cases. We present a case of a 17-year-old female who was admitted initially with the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa (restricting type) and later found to have pituitary adenoma.

Eating disorders

2020 ◽  
pp. 6509-6513
Author(s):  
Christopher G. Fairburn
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Bulimia Nervosa ◽  
Dietary Restriction ◽  
Eating Behaviour ◽  
Medical Attention ◽  
Medical Complications ◽  
Electrolyte Disturbance ◽  
Medical Unit ◽  
Life Threatening

The eating disorders are a group of conditions, central to which is a disturbance of eating behaviour. The main diagnoses are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, in both of which there is an extreme concern with weight and shape. In anorexia nervosa, persistent dietary restriction leads to weight loss, which may be severe. In bulimia nervosa, the dietary restriction is interrupted by repeated episodes of binge eating (typically followed by self-induced vomiting) and weight is usually unremarkable. Both disorders may be accompanied by medical complications that present to physicians. Anorexia nervosa has the potential to be life-threatening because of the consequences of starvation. Patients may require medical attention for the correction of electrolyte disturbance and sometimes admission to a medical unit for refeeding. The main treatment of eating disorders is psychological. The prognosis of bulimia nervosa is generally good but is less positive for anorexia nervosa.

Medical Complications of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip S. Mehler
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Bulimia Nervosa ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Direct Result ◽  
Medical Complications ◽  
Body System ◽  
Excess Morbidity

Medical complications are commonly found in patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. In the case of anorexia nervosa, the complications are a direct result of weight loss and malnutrition and can affect every body system. As weight loss becomes more severe and the disorder becomes increasingly chronic, there is an increased likelihood for the development of medical complications. Bulimia nervosa also has many medical complications. In general, they relate to the mode and frequency of purging behaviors, which are inherent to the illness. Many of them are serious and thus contribute to the excess morbidity and mortality that exists in patients with bulimia nervosa. This chapter will discuss the medical complications that occur as a consequence of anorexia nervosa including the purging subtype, and bulimia nervosa.

scholarly journals Gastrointestinal Complications of Refeeding in Anorexia Nervosa

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalia Marie Trees
Keyword(s):  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Delayed Gastric Emptying ◽  
Medical Complications ◽  
Nutritional Rehabilitation ◽  
Refeeding Syndrome ◽  
Gastrointestinal Complications ◽  
Nutrition Rehabilitation ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Weight Restoration ◽  
Eating Disorder Behaviors

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a complicated and life-threatening mental illness. Restoration of weight and nutrition rehabilitation are key elements for the treatment of AN. However, gastrointestinal (GI) complications often develop due to eating disorder behaviors, concomitant malnutrition, and during the refeeding process. These problems may give rise to significant medical complications and contribute to increased difficulties with refeeding and weight restoration. This review aims to describe common GI complications in AN including delayed gastric emptying, gastric dilatation, superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome, refeeding hepatitis, and refeeding syndrome. Recommendations for clinicians refeeding a patient with AN are provided. Knowledge of these GI manifestations is required for correct management and successful nutritional rehabilitation of patients with AN.

scholarly journals The expression of cytokines and chemokines in the blood of patients with severe weight loss from anorexia nervosa: An exploratory study

Cytokine ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.S. Pisetsky ◽  
S.E. Trace ◽  
K.A. Brownley ◽  
R.M. Hamer ◽  
N.L. Zucker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Severe Weight Loss ◽  
Cytokines And Chemokines

scholarly journals A clinical course of a patient with anorexia nervosa receiving surgery for superior mesenteric artery syndrome

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken Kurisu ◽  
Yukari Yamanaka ◽  
Tadahiro Yamazaki ◽  
Ryo Yoneda ◽  
Makoto Otani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Superior Mesenteric Artery ◽  
Mesenteric Artery ◽  
Rare Complication ◽  
Nutrition Therapy ◽  
Psychological Status ◽  
Sma Syndrome

Abstract Background Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome is a well-known but relatively rare complication of anorexia nervosa. Although several reports have proposed surgery for SMA syndrome associated with anorexia nervosa, these have shown poor outcomes or did not reveal the long-term weight course. Thus, the long-term effectiveness of surgery for SMA syndrome in such cases remains unclear. This case report describes a patient with anorexia nervosa who underwent surgery for SMA syndrome. Case presentation An 18-year-old woman presented with anorexia nervosa when she was 16 years old. She also presented with SMA syndrome, which seemed to be caused by weight loss due to the eating disorder. Nutrition therapy initially improved her body weight, but she ceased treatment. She reported that symptoms related to SMA syndrome had led to her weight loss and desired to undergo surgery. Laparoscopic duodenojejunostomy was performed, but her body weight did not improve after the surgery. The patient eventually received conservative nutritional treatment along with psychological approaches, which led to an improvement in her body weight. Conclusions The case implies that surgery for SMA syndrome in patients with anorexia nervosa is ineffective for long-term weight recovery and that conservative treatment can sufficiently improve body weight; this is consistent with the lack of evidence on the topic and reports on potential complications of surgery. Due to difficulties in assessing psychological status, consultation with specialists on eating disorders is necessary for treating patients with severely low body weight.

Cardiovascular complications of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteraemia

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. e240341
Author(s):  
Michelle M de Leau ◽  
Remko S Kuipers
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽  
Cardiovascular Complications ◽  
Diagnosis And Treatment ◽  
Immunocompromised Patients ◽  
Correct Treatment ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Pneumococcal Bacteraemia

The incidence of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteraemia has risen due to a worldwide increase in immunocompromised patients and antibiotic resistance. We describe three patients who experienced severe, including cardiovascular, complications of pneumococcal bacteraemia. Cardiovascular complications related to pneumococci may run a fulminant course. However, some of these life-threatening complications (eg, endocarditis and aortitis) may long remain unnoticed or be misdiagnosed and therefore delay correct treatment. We review the literature with regards to the incidence, diagnosis and treatment of these rare but possibly lethal and hence important cardiovascular complications.

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