[Hematologic changes in anorexia nervosa].
We studied the hematologic values of 25 patients with anorexia nervosa. Age ranged from 12 to 38 years and 22 were females. Mean hematocrit was decreased to 36% and total leukocyte count to 4.400/microliters. Anemia was diagnosed in 13 patients. It was normocytic in 7 hypochromic microcytic in 7 and megaloblastic in 2. Seven of these anemic patients corrected their anemia with the treatment of anorexia nervosa, 3 required iron supplement and 2 folic acid. Bone marrow studies in 23 patients demonstrated hypoplasia in 17. Four patients had global bone marrow hypoplasia with decreased numbers of erythroblasts and megakaryocytes. A mucopolysaccharide substance substituted for a decreased fat content of bone marrow. A decreased bone marrow reserve of neutrophils and their margination in blood vessels contributed to leukopenia, which was not associated to an increased number of infections. Blood coagulation tests and platelet aggregation were normal.