Transaminitis and elevated lipase and amylase are frequent consequences of anorexia nervosa and can be associated both with both starvation and refeeding.
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What is a common metabolic complication associated with bulimia?
Bulimia nervosa can lead to a variety of general medical complications, including metabolic alkalosis, dehydration, constipation, and cardiac arrhythmias.
Does bulimia cause metabolic alkalosis?
Patients who purge by vomiting may present with metabolic alkalosis (elevated serum bicarbonate levels) due to volume contraction. However, patients who primarily abuse laxatives may present with metabolic acidosis (decreased serum bicarbonate levels) due to loss of alkaline fluid from the bowel.
What are 3 physiological changes that occur with bulimia nervosa?
Physiological effects of bulimia nervosa on the gastrointestinal tract include dental caries and enamel erosion; enlargement of the parotid gland; esophagitis; changes in gastric capacity and gastric emptying; gastric necrosis; and alterations of the intestinal mucosa.
Can bulimia cause metabolic acidosis?
Laxative abusers can develop severe constipation on withdrawal of laxatives, related to damage to the myenteric plexus. The typical electrolyte abnormalities associated with bulimia are hypokalemia and metabolic acidosis.
Why is amylase increased in bulimia?
Hyperamylasemia, which has been reported in patients with the eating disorders anorexia nervosa and bulimia, generally has been thought to result from pancreatitis.
How does purging affect the metabolism?
Metabolic Abnormalities Caused by Purging Can Be Life Threatening. Purging behaviors, causing abnormalities seen with sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, most commonly disrupts electrolyte levels and overall pH levels.
What causes hypokalemia in bulimia?
The pathophysiologic reasons for hypokalemia and hypochloremia seen with all significant purging behaviors are 2-fold and interrelated. First, and most obvious, there is loss of potassium in the purged gastric contents, excessive stool from laxative abuse, or in the urine through diuretic abuse.
Why does hypokalemia occur in bulimia?
Rates of renal potassium secretion are further increased in the presence of an elevated aldosterone level secondary to volume contraction, causing worsening hypokalemia.
What labs should be checked for bulimia?
- Comprehensive blood chemistry panel: This is important in detecting possible occult metabolic complications of bulimia.
- Complete blood cell count: This is used to exclude anemia or other occult hematologic abnormalities.
- Urinalysis: Urine specific gravity may reflect the state of hydration.
What are 5 physical effects of bulimia?
- anemia.
- low blood pressure and irregular heart rate.
- dry skin.
- ulcers.
- decreased electrolyte levels and dehydration.
- esophageal ruptures from excessive vomiting.
- gastrointestinal problems.
- irregular periods.
What is the most insignificant characteristic of a person with bulimia?
What is the most insignificant characteristic of a person with bulimia? The person is close to her ideal body weight. Bulimia nervosa is more prevalent than anorexia nervosa in both women and men. What is not a risk of being underweight?
Can bulimia damage your stomach?
Bulimia can permanently damage your stomach and intestines, causing other problems like constipation, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome. Hormonal problems. Reproductive issues, including irregular periods, missed periods, and fertility problems are common side effects when you have bulimia.
Does bulimia cause electrolyte imbalance?
Almost half of all people with bulimia have electrolyte imbalances. [2] A bulimia electrolyte imbalance can cause dizziness, confusion, and swelling in your hands and feet. If left untreated, these issues can cause life-threatening complications, including heart damage.
What causes metabolic alkalosis?
Metabolic alkalosis is caused by too much bicarbonate in the blood. It can also occur due to certain kidney diseases. Hypochloremic alkalosis is caused by an extreme lack or loss of chloride, such as from prolonged vomiting.
Which acid-base disorder would be most likely to occur in a patient with bulimia?
The most common acid-base abnormality found in bulimia nervosa is a metabolic alkalosis (bicarbonate >28 mEq/L).
Can vomiting increase amylase?
Discussion: Of patients with hyperemesis gravidarum who repeatedly vomit but do not binge, a significant number had raised amylase. This suggests that it is the vomiting rather than the binge behavior that increases amylase in bulimic patients. This increased amylase probably comes from the salivary gland.
What causes low amylase levels?
A low amylase level may suggest a pancreas, liver or kidney problem, or cystic fibrosis. An amylase test measures the amount of amylase in blood or urine (pee). An abnormal level of amylase can indicate a health problem, particularly a problem with the pancreas.
How many calories do you lose when you throw up?
Your body starts absorbing calories from the moment you put food in your mouth. If you vomit right after a very large meal, you typically eliminate less than 50 percent of the calories you consumed. Laxatives get rid of 10 percent of the calories you eat.
Why does bulimia cause bloating?
Food restriction, binging, and purging, cause the muscles lining the entire digestive tract from the esophagus to the anus to become de-conditioned. They “shrink,” causing food to empty very slowly. Food can literally sit in the stomach or bowel for hours, causing gas, bloating and pain.
How does bulimia affect potassium?
Potassium. Low potassium level, or hypokalemia, is the most serious consequence of bulimia because it causes heart arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), cardiomyopathy (weakening heart), muscle weakness that can border on paralysis, and tetany (involuntary muscle contractions)2.
Does bulimia cause hypoglycemia?
Bulimia with bingeing and vomiting can also cause hypoglycemia and alter glucose levels.
Does bulimia cause magnesium deficiency?
Frequent purging can cause malnutrition, especially low magnesium. A magnesium deficiency can also cause calcium and potassium deficiencies, as magnesium helps absorb and transport these electrolytes through the body. Symptoms of mild hypomagnesemia include: Twitches, especially in the facial muscles.
Can bulimia cause low sodium levels?
Both anorexia and bulimia can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Malnutrition from either disorder can prevent the body from receiving the nutrients it needs (including sodium), and this can lead to sodium concentrations becoming imbalanced.
How does vomiting affect electrolytes?
Electrolyte and water loss Excessive vomiting, especially over a prolonged period of time, leads to excess loss of water and electrolytes from the body. Electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonates and chloride ions are essential for normal bodily functions.