[Anorexia/bulimia nervosa and mitral valve prolapse in a marathon runner].

A 23-year-old male student (height 180 cm, weight 63 kg) without any cardiac symptoms underwent a cardiological examination and consultation before a marathon run. A holosystolic mitral valve prolapse was discovered. After the marathon run he developed anorexia nervosa, interrupted by brief bulimic periods, to a minimal weight of 48 kg. After psychosomatic in-patient treatment and a weight gain to 60 kg an anorexic period recurred and he lost weight. In this phase he had an iron deficiency anaemia (Hb 11.9 g/dl), leucopenia (2,900/microliters) and (compared with the status at the first examination) mild decrease in heart size, while the valve prolapse was unchanged. Ergometric capacity was still above normal, at 300 W. After taking iron, magnesium and potassium salts in-patient psychosomatic treatment was renewed.