Improvement of atrioventricular block with weight restoration in an adolescent with anorexia nervosa

Abstract

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder associated with a number of cardiac complications. Certain cardiac conduction abnormalities are also frequent in young athletes, including both firstand second-degree atrioventricular (AV) blocks. 1,2 We present the case of a 15-year-old girl with a background of athleticism and new diagnosis of AN (restricting subtype), who had first-degree and two types of second-degree heart block (Mobitz type I 'Wenckebach' and 2:1 AV block). The second-degree heart block significantly improved with weight restoration, suggesting that weight loss was a component of the aetiology.