Coronary atherosclerosis in anorexia nervosa

BACKGROUND: Chest pain is a common complaint in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). Of those who experience chest pain, about 20% meet the diagnostic criteria for typical or atypical angina. METHODS: We compared the intima-medial thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery measured by ultrasound in AN with controls and found no difference. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Although clinically relevant atherosclerosis can occur in patients with a normal IMT, there is a strong correlation between carotid IMT and coronary atherosclerosis. This suggests that an atherosclerotic origin of chest pain in AN patients is unlikely.