PROLACTIN RESPONSE TO D-FENFLURAMINE IS BLUNTED IN PEOPLE WITH ANOREXIA-NERVOSA

Background Several studies have explored serotonin (5-HT) transmission in people with anorexia nervosa, but their results have been inconsis tent. Method According to a double-blind placebo-controlled design, pl asma prolactin response to the specific serotonergic probe d-fenfluram ine was investigated in 10 underweight and two normal-weight women wit h anorexia, and in 12 age-matched healthy females. Eating-related psyc hopathology, depressive and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and aggress iveness were measured by appropriate rating scales. Results Compared w ith healthy control subjects, the women with anorexia showed reduced b aseline prolactin and oestrogen levels and increased basal cortisol co ncentrations. The prolactin response to d-fenfluramine was blunted and did not correlate with psychopathological measures. Conclusions These results support a dysfunction of 5-HT transmission in anorexia nervos a. This dysfunction does not seem to be related to concomitant depress ive or obsessive-compulsive symptoms or to the level of aggressiveness of the patients.