Transdermal Estrogen in Women With Anorexia Nervosa
Start Date
8/28/2020
Completion Date
12/31/2028
Summary
Randomized, placebo-controlled study investigating the use of physiologic, transdermal estrogen for low bone mass in adult women with anorexia nervosa.
Detailed Description
Anorexia nervosa is a prevalent psychiatric with a lifetime prevalence of up to 2.2%. Among the many medical co-morbidities associated with anorexia nervosa, the most common is significant bone loss, which can persist despite weight recovery. Nearly 90% of women with anorexia nervosa have osteopenia and this low bone mass is associated with an increased fracture risk. Nearly 30% of women with anorexia nervosa report a history of a fracture and a prospective study demonstrated a 7-fold increased risk of fracture in women with anorexia nervosa compared to age-matched controls. Because anorexia nervosa is a chronic disease that can persist despite psychiatric and nutritional counseling, the bone loss and increased fracture risk can persist and lead to lifelong morbidity. Therefore, finding a treatment for bone loss associated with anorexia nervosa is of critical importance. This 18-month randomized, placebo-controlled study will investigate in women (ages 20 to 45 years old) with anorexia nervosa whether treatment with transdermal estrogen replacement will increase bone mineral density (BMD).
Eligibility Criteria
Age Range: 19 years to 45 years
Interventions
Transdermal estrogen
Placebos
Conditions
Locations
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
United States