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Prolactin response to d-fenfluramine is blunted in people with anorexia nervosa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Palmiero Monteleone ,
Francesca Brambilla ,
Francesca Bortolotti ,
Antonietta La Rocca  and
Mario Maj
Palmiero Monteleone*
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Italy
Francesca Brambilla
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Italy
Francesca Bortolotti
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Italy
Antonietta La Rocca
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Italy
Mario Maj
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Italy
*
Palmiero Monteleone, Clinica Psichiatrica, Primo Policlinico Universitario, Largo Madonna delle Grazie, 80138 Napoli, Italy
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Abstract

Background

Several studies have explored serotonin (5-HT) transmission in people with anorexia nervosa, but their results have been inconsistent.

Method

According to a double-blind placebo-controlled design, plasma prolactin response to the specific serotonergic probe d-fenfluramine was investigated in 10 underweight and two normal-weight women with anorexia, and in 12 age-matched healthy females. Eating-related psychopathology, depressive and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and aggressiveness were measured by appropriate rating scales.

Results

Compared with healthy control subjects, the women with anorexia showed reduced baseline prolactin and oestrogen levels and increased basal Cortisol concentrations. 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 nervosa. This dysfunction does not seem to be related to concomitant depressive or obsessive-compulsive symptoms or to the level of aggressiveness of the patients.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 172 , Issue 5 , May 1998 , pp. 438 - 442
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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