Abstract
Background: Infantile anorexia nervosa (AN) is a specific eating disorder of prepubertal children. Poor data are available on growth hormone (GH)-insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) axis in this disorder. Patient report: We report on a boy (4.5 years) with progressive growth impairment. At psychiatric assessment (DC: 0-3 R, AXIS I), he fulfilled all required criteria for diagnosis of infantile AN. Endocrine evaluation suggested impaired peripheral response to GH (high GH and low IGF-1 levels), likely related to energy deficiency. Methods: Auxological evaluation was shown as raw data and SDS using Italian reference values. GH secretion was assessed by arginine provocative test; IGFI generation test was done administering recombinant GH (0.05 mg/kg/day for four days). Psychiatric assessment was performed according to the DC:0-3R protocol. Conclusion: Impaired GH-IGF-1 axis may be involved in growth delay of children with infantile AN. A strict collaboration between endocrine pediatricians and child psychiatrists is advisable in the assessment of poor growing children without recognizable organic causes, showing normal/high GH levels and low IGF-1 values.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 999-1001 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism |
Volume | 28 |
Issue number | 9-10 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sep 1 2015 |
Keywords
- growth
- growth hormone
- IGF-1
- infantile anorexia nervosa
- prepubertal eating disorders
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Endocrinology
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health