Spirometric parameters in malnourished girls with anorexia nervosa.

Repercussions of obesity on the lung function have been widely studied. The effect of serious malnutrition is less well known. The aim of study was to determine spirometric parameters in 102 malnourished girls with anorexia nervosa. Among these patients, only 71 aged 12-18 years (mean 15.6), mean BMI 15.8 kg/m(2), met the ATS/ERS forced expiratory maneuver criteria for spirometry. The most frequently observed abnormalities were: decreased IC seen in 33 (46%) girls and decreased PEF in 45 (63%) patients. Maximum voluntary ventilation was within the normal range in all but 2 subjects. Diminished values of FEV(1), FVC, FEV(1)/FVC, MEF(50) were observed in 10 (14%), 13 (18%), 3 (4%), and 3 (4%) patients, respectively. We found strong positive correlations between weight and absolute values of the examined parameters. We assume that spirometric abnormalities in anorexia are probably a result of respiratory muscle weakness and body mass loss.