RESUMO
We measured serum estradiol (E2) using a highly sensitive radioimmunoassay kit in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). It is possible to determine the ovarian function with hypogonadism in patients with AN whose levels of E2 were below 10 pg/ml. In patients with extremely low levels of BMI (less than 15 kg/m2), basal levels of E2, LH, FSH and IGF-I increased significantly with gain of body weight. Recovery of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian function in AN patients were correlated with weight gain and nutritional status. The levels of IGF-I and E2 raised in advance of gonadotropins. Using highly sensitive assay of E2, we recognized the clinical usefulness for evaluation of the ovarian function in patients with AN in the course of treatment.