Ferritin and body mass index predict cardiac dysfunction in female adolescents with anorexia of the restrictive type

Abstract

Background and aim Decreased left ventricular mass index in anorexia nervosa is amply reported. The aim of this study is to identify nonburdensome predictors of reduced left ventricular mass/height2.7 (cLVM) in a cohort of adolescent restrictive anorexic girls.

Methods This is a retrospective study of all anorexic girls of the restrictive type referred to our tertiary eating disorder unit between September 2002 and December 2012, for somatic assessment of weight loss. All subjects fulfi lled DMS-IV criteria, without a family history of cardiac or cardiovascular diseases.

Results In all, 283 restrictive anorexic girls (age: 14.63 ± 1.65 y; body mass index: 15.72 ± 1.81 kg/m²) were included. Ferritin and body mass index were independent, statistically signifi cant predictors of the corrected left ventricular mass (P < 0.05).

Conclusion Decreased cLVM is very common in anorexia nervosa of the restrictive type. Two factors predicted decreased cLVM in our population: ferritin and BMI.

Key Words:

• Anorexia nervosa
• adolescent girls
• restrictive type
• corrected left ventricular mass index
• ferritin
• body mass index.