Salivary gland enlargement and elevated serum amylase in bulimia nervosa

Background: Clinical reports have described salivary gland enlargement in b ulimia nervosa, particularly in patients with elevated serum amylase concen tration. The goal of the current study was to provide a controlled comparis on of salivary gland size in patients with bulimia nervosa and healthy volu nteers. Methods: Subjects included 17 women with bulimia nervosa and 21 healthy fem ale control subjects. Dimensions of the parotid and submandibular salivary glands were estimated by ultrasonography. Blood samples for amylase measure ment were obtained after overnight fast. Results: Parotid gland size was enlarged 36% in patients with bulimia nervo sa in comparison to control subjects (p<.01). For the patient group, saliva ry gland size was significantly correlated with frequency of bulimic sympto ms and with serum amylase concentration Conclusions: These results provide new quantitative data demonstrating incr eased salivary gland size in bulimia nervosa. Further studies are needed to evaluate factors responsible for salivary gland enlargement and hyperamyla semia in this disorder. Biol Psychiatry 1999;45: 1520-1522 (C) 1999 Society of Biological Psychiatry.