[Severe acute liver and pancreas damage in anorexia nervosa]

The intersect of gastrointestinal symptoms and malnutrition associated with anorexia nervosa and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder: Functional or pathophysiologic?-A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Although multiple pathophysiologic changes develop within the gastrointestinal (GI) system in the setting of malnutrition, the etiology of the reported multitude of symptoms in those with anorexia nervosa and avoidant restrictive intake disorder, as well as their contribution toward disordered eating, remain poorly understood. This systematic review seeks to better understand how these physiologic changes of malnutrition of the esophagus, stomach, intestines, and pancreas contribute toward the reported GI symptoms, as well as better understand how celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, pelvic floor dysfunction, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome contribute toward disordered eating.

METHODS

Studies of any design exploring the pathogenesis of complications and treatment strategies were included. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines were used to structure and complete the review.

RESULTS

A total of 146 articles were used for the review. The majority of studies were observational or case reports/case series.

DISCUSSION

Pathophysiologic changes of the esophagus, stomach, and intestines develop with malnutrition, although these changes do not consistently correlate with expressed GI symptoms in patients with restrictive eating disorders. Celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease also contribute to disordered eating through the associated somatic GI complaints, while pelvic floor dysfunction and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome contribute through both somatic symptoms and functional symptoms. Indeed, functional GI symptoms remain problematic during the course of treatment, and further research is required to better understand the extent to which these symptoms are functional in nature and remit or remain as treatment ensues.

Sipjeondaebo-tang in patients with cancer with anorexia: a protocol for a pilot, randomised, controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Cancer-related anorexia is the loss of appetite or desire to eat in patients with cancer. Although treatments for cancer-related anorexia do exist, patients have sought complementary and alternative medicine including herbal remedies, due to safety concerns. Sipjeondaebo-tang is one among other popular herbal medicines that are beneficial to management of anorexia in Korea. The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility for a full randomised clinical trial of Sipjeondaebo-tang for cancer-related anorexia.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This study is a randomised, double-blinded and placebo-controlled trial of Sipjeondaebo-tang. For the study, 40 patients with cancer, aged 20-80 years, who reported anorexia, will be recruited. The participants will receive either 3 g of Sipjeondaebo-tang or a placebo, 3 times a day for 4 weeks. The primary end point is a change in the anorexia/cachexia subscale (A/CS) of Functional Assessment of Anorexia/Cachexia Therapy (FAACT). The secondary end points include changes in the visual analogue scale (VAS) of appetite, cortisol and ghrelin. The outcomes will be measured on every visit. Each participant will visit once a week during 4 weeks.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The present study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Dunsan Korean Medicine Hospital of Daejeon University (reference DJDSKH-15-03-2 (V.2.0)). The results will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal and scientific conference.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT02468141; Pre-results.

Severe steatohepatitis with hepatic decompensation resulting from malnutrition after pancreaticoduodenectomy

The most common finding related to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is obesity, but a status of severe malnutrition can also induce the steatohepatitis. The authors report a rare case of steatohepatitis leading to hepatic decompensation caused by malnutrition after pancreaticoduodenectomy. A 68-year-old female patient who had been previously diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy 5 months previously presented with abdominal distension. Routine CT performed 3 months after the surgery revealed severe fatty liver without evidence of tumor recurrence. After undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy her food intake had reduced, and as a result she had lost 7 kg of body weight over 2 months. At this admission, CT revealed moderate amounts of ascites without tumor recurrence. Furthermore, her albumin and lipid profile levels were markedly decreased, and she had a flapping tremor and slurred speech suggestive of hepatic encephalopathy. Her liver biopsy findings were consistent with steatohepatitis and disclosed macrovesicular steatosis without definite fibrosis. After careful nutritional control, her symptoms disappeared and her laboratory findings improved.

Prognosis in 41 severely malnourished anorexia nervosa patients

BACKGROUND & AIMS

To report the prognosis in 41 anorexia nervosa (AN) patients suffering from very severe malnutrition (mean BMI: 10.1 ± 0.57 kg/m(2)).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Compared with 443 less malnourished AN patients, the 41 patients were older (27.8 ± 5.4 vs 22.4 ± 2.1 yrs), their AN was longer (9.6 ± 3.4 vs 5.0 ± 1.5 yrs) and more often of the restrictive subtype (P < 0.05).

RESULTS

In 27% of the patients, all nutritional marker levels were in normal range. All patients received a prudent tube-refeeding: energy was increased from 12 to 40 kcal/kg/day, protein from 1.0 to 1.5 g/kg/day within 10 days. During stay, 1 patient died, 2 others suffered from myocardial infarction, 2 others from acute pancreatitis, and 5 from mental confusion. Compared with the other 443 AN patients, the 40 remaining patients had worse 6-yr prognosis: 2 died (7% vs 1.2%), 29% had severe outcome (vs 10%), and only 41% recovered (vs 62%).

CONCLUSION

In AN patients with BMI < 11 kg/m(2), a prudent tube-refeeding could avoid short-term mortality, but long-term prognosis was bad.

The clinical biochemistry of anorexia nervosa

In anorexia nervosa, under-nutrition and weight regulatory behaviours such as vomiting and laxative abuse can lead to a range of biochemical problems. Hypokalaemia is the most common electrolyte abnormality. Metabolic alkalosis occurs in patients who vomit or abuse diuretics and acidosis in those misusing laxatives. Hyponatraemia is often due to excessive water ingestion, but may also occur in chronic energy deprivation or diuretic misuse. Urea and creatinine are generally low and normal concentrations may mask dehydration or renal dysfunction. Abnormalities of liver enzymes are predominantly characterized by elevation of aminotransferases, which may occur before or during refeeding. The serum albumin is usually normal, even in severely malnourished patients. Amenorrhoea is due to hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. Reduced concentrations of free T4 and free T3 are frequently reported and T4 is preferentially converted to reverse T3. Cortisol is elevated but the response to adrenocorticotrophic hormone is normal. Hypoglycaemia is common. Hypercholesterolaemia is a common finding but its significance for cardiovascular risk is uncertain. A number of micronutrient deficiencies can occur. Other abnormalities include hyperamylasaemia, hypercarotenaemia and elevated creatine kinase. There is an increased prevalence of eating disorders in type 1 diabetes and the intentional omission of insulin is associated with impaired metabolic control. Refeeding may produce electrolyte abnormalities, hyper- and hypoglycaemia, acute thiamin depletion and fluid balance disturbance; careful biochemical monitoring and thiamin replacement are therefore essential during refeeding. Future research should address the management of electrolyte problems, the role of leptin and micronutrients, and the possible use of biochemical markers in risk stratification.