[Profile of gonadal hormones in 8 cases of male anorexia nervosa studied before and during weight gain].

Hormonal investigations were performed in 8 cases of male anorexia nervosa at the time of their maximum emaciation. In 6 cases, these investigations were repeated during weight gain. At the time of the maximum emaciation, serum testosterone (T) was decreased in every case. Mean values of serum T, estradiol (E2), LH and FSH were significantly lower than those of controls with a comparable age and a normal weight. Four times out of five serum gonadotropins did not increase after LHRH injection. During weight gain, values of T, E2, LH, FSH and the gonadotropins' response to LHRH increased. T values and the corpulence index were significantly correlated (p less than 0,001), though these 2 parameters did not constantly change in a parallel way. Thus, male anorexia nervosa is associated with a severe hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. This hypogonadism results from weight loss, but also from other factors, especially psychosomatic ones.