Leukaemia linked to eating disorders

• Published in: BMJ Vol. 306; no. 6881; pp. 830 - 831
• Main Authors: Nishizono-Maher, A, Sakamaki, H, Mizukami, H, Kuraki, T, Minakawa, K, Masuda, Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London British Medical Journal Publishing Group 27-03-1993; British Medical Association; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adult; Anorexia - complications; Anorexia nervosa; Appetite depressants; Biological and medical sciences; Chemotherapy; Eating disorders; Feeding and Eating Disorders - complications; Female; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Humans; Immunology; Leukemia; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive - etiology; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute - etiology; Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Male; Medical sciences; Medical specialists; Symptoms; Vomiting; Bulimia; Case study; Human; Concomitant disease; Leukemia; Malignant hemopathy; Psychopathology; Nervous anorexia; Malnutrition
• ISSN: 0959-8138; 0959-8146; 1468-5833; 1756-1833
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.306.6881.830

Eating disorders are common in industrialized countries. Because of treatment such as intravenous hyperalimentation many anorectic patients now survive instead of dying from emaciation. Some patients, however, have chronic anorectic symptoms and remain in a prolonged state of malnutrition. Bulimic symptoms may emerge later, increasing the person's physiological and nutritional imbalance. The haematological and immunological aspects of anorexia nervosa have been widely investigated, but to our knowledge a possible connection between eating disorders and leukaemia has not been described. We report on three patients who developed myelocytic leukaemia after protracted eating disorders. None had a history of exposure to excessive radiation or to other potential sources of leukaemia.