Do abnormalities in regional cerebral blood flow in anorexia nervosa resolve after weight restoration?

Abstract

These data suggest that in the majority of cases rCBF does not return to normal following weight restoration. The implications for future research are explored.

Neuropsychological Impairments in Anorexia Nervosa: A Spanish Sample Pilot Study

“…This finding is in line with previous work that have shown unilateral left temporal hypoperfusion in 8 out of 15 and unilateral right temporal hypoperfusion in 5 out of 15 patients, which persisted at follow-up after restoration (Gordon, Lask, Bryant-Waugh, Christie, & Timimi, 1998). It is also in line with work such as that of Chowdhury et al (2003), Frampton et al (2011), andRastam et al (2001), but is contrary to work by Connan et al (2006) and Frank et al (2007).…”

“…Mainz, Schulte-Rü ther, Fink, Herpertz-Dahlmann, and Konrad (2012) found that grey-matter reductions at admission in patients with AN improved after weight recovery, with the strongest association found in the cerebellum. Frampton, Watkins, Gordon, and Lask (2011) found that regional cerebral blood flow levels did not return to normal in seven out of nine patients up to 4 years after diagnosis. Lateral and third ventricles enlargement has also been associated with starvation and malnutrition observed in AN.…”

Cerebral perfusion differences in women currently with and recovered from anorexia nervosa

“…Six studies measured rCBF in subjects when they were underweight (Gordon et al, 1997; Naruo et al, 2001; Takano et al, 2001; Chowdhury et al, 2003; Key et al, 2006; Yonezawa et al, 2008). Six studies focused on pediatric patients (Gordon et al, 1997; Kuruoglu et al, 1998; Chowdhury et al, 2003; Lask et al, 2005; Komatsu et al, 2010; Frampton et al, 2011), and five on adult patients (Takano et al, 2001; Kojima et al, 2005; Key et al, 2006; Matsumoto et al, 2006; Frank et al, 2007; Yonezawa et al, 2008). Five studies compared rCBF before and after weight recovery, three with primarily pediatric subjects (Kuruoglu et al, 1998; Komatsu et al, 2010; Frampton et al, 2011), and two in adults (Kojima et al, 2005; Matsumoto et al, 2006).…”

“…Six studies focused on pediatric patients (Gordon et al, 1997; Kuruoglu et al, 1998; Chowdhury et al, 2003; Lask et al, 2005; Komatsu et al, 2010; Frampton et al, 2011), and five on adult patients (Takano et al, 2001; Kojima et al, 2005; Key et al, 2006; Matsumoto et al, 2006; Frank et al, 2007; Yonezawa et al, 2008). Five studies compared rCBF before and after weight recovery, three with primarily pediatric subjects (Kuruoglu et al, 1998; Komatsu et al, 2010; Frampton et al, 2011), and two in adults (Kojima et al, 2005; Matsumoto et al, 2006). There are four studies examining rCBF in currently-ill adult women, but the BMI for subjects in three of these studies (Naruo et al, 2001; Takano et al, 2001; Yonezawa et al, 2008) was substantially lower than in our study, leaving only one study of 11 subjects by Key et al (Key et al, 2006) containing subjects comparable to our AN-C group based on BMI and age.…”

“…As such, cerebral vasculature changes may be particularly important in anorexia nervosa, and cerebral blood flow (CBF) might provide a measure of the severity of brain dysfunction occurring in patients with anorexia. Physiological brain differences in anorexia nervosa have been investigated in studies using nuclear medicine-based techniques, with largely heterogeneous results (Gordon et al, 1997; Kuruoglu et al, 1998; Naruo et al, 2001; Råstam et al, 2001; Takano et al, 2001; Chowdhury et al, 2003; Kojima et al, 2005; Lask et al, 2005; Key et al, 2006; Matsumoto et al, 2006; Frank et al, 2007; Yonezawa et al 2008; Komatsu et al, 2010; Frampton et al, 2011). A review of this literature is included in the discussion and summarized in Table 1.…”