Drug Transport in Patients With Anorexia Nervosa
Drug Transport in Patients With Anorexia Nervosa
The aim of this study is to investigate whether patients with anorexia nervosa have elevated
 plasma cholesterol levels and, if elevated plasma cholesterol levels influence drug transport
 by the ABC-transporter P-gp (P-glycoprotein, MDR 1/ABCB1). We will isolate peripheral blood
 mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and total RNA from the blood of patients with anorexia nervosa and
 healthy subjects as control. PBMCs will be used for quantitative cholesterol determination
 and for measuring the activity of P-gp using a FACS (fluorescence-activated cell sorting)
 method (rhodamine123 efflux). Total RNA will be used for quantitative expression analysis of
 P-gp by reverse transcriptase real time PCR.
Inclusion Criteria:

 Diagnosis anorexia nervosa according to DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
 Disorders. Washington, DC) Refusal to gain weight to or over a minimal normal weight (BMI <
 17,5 kg/m²) Fear of gaining weight despite underweight

 Exclusion Criteria:

 Contraindication for taking blood samples (haemoglobin < 8,5 g/dl) Medication which could
 influence the lipid metabolism (current and the last two months) Acute or chronic diseases,
 particularly malign diseases Diseases which could affect the safety of the patients or
 which could interfere with aims of the study Positive pregnancy test Excessive alcohol
 consumption (more than 30 g alcohol per day) or alcohol consumption within two days before
 sampling blood Disability to communicate with the investigator because of linguistic
 problems or because of a limited mental state

 Inclusion criteria for healthy subjects:

 Age matched with patients with anorexia nervosa (18 years to 30 years) Well status of
 health Female Negative pregnancy test No clinical relevant diagnosis, particularly no
 hyperlipoproteinemias (LDL < 160 mg/dl) BMI > 18,0 kg/m² and < 25 kg/m²

 Exclusion criteria for healthy subjects:

 Medication which could influence the lipid metabolism (current and two months ago
 inclusively) Acute or chronic diseases, particularly malign diseases Diseases which could
 affect the safety of the patients or which could interfere with aims of the study Positive
 pregnancy test Excessive alcohol consumption (more than 30 g alcohol per day) or alcohol
 consumption within two days before sampling blood Disability to communicate with the
 investigator because of linguistic problems or because of a limited mental state