Gp. Jordaan et al., SEROTONERGIC AGENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF HYPOTHALAMIC OBESITY SYNDROME- A CASE-REPORT, The International journal of eating disorders, 20(1), 1996, pp. 111-113
The hypothalamic obesity syndrome is characterized by hyperphagia and
excessive weight gain in the presence of demonstrable hypothalamic inj
ury. There have been no previous reports describing the use of seroton
ergic agents in this condition. We report on a patient with severe hyp
erphagia and obesity secondary to a hypothalamic lesion, who was treat
ed with consecutive courses of fluoxetine and fenfluramine. Neither tr
eatment resulted in a reduction in food intake or weight. Treatment of
hypothalamic obesity with serotonergic agents appears to be oi little
value, probably because they exert their effect via intact serotonerg
ic-sensitive hypothalamic nuclei. (C) 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.