[Blunted erythropoietic response in the anemia of anorexia nervosa]. / Disminución de la respuesta eritropoyética en pacientes con anorexia nerviosa y anemia.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The cause of the anemia in anorexia nervosa (AN) has not been fully ascertained. Ferritin, folate and cobalamin values are usually within normal ranges. Anemia does not have a relationship with bone marrow changes and erythropoietin (EPO) levels have not been investigated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the EPO response in a small group of AN patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: EPO levels were measured in serum samples of 41 female AN patients (11 with anemia, and 30 with normal blood cell count). The adequacy of EPO response was assessed by comparing the increase observed in a group of normal weight patients with anemia. RESULTS: EPO concentrations in anemic AN patients were higher than in non-anemic 20.63mU/mL (4.04-28.46) vs 8.7mU/mL (3.9-20.93), P=.0088, but the increase in EPO was lower than expected (27.85mU/mL [17.7-118.9]), P=.014. BMI and the difference between actual and expected EPO were inversely correlated. CONCLUSIONS: Inadequate EPO response may partly explain anemia in AN, but further studies are necessary.