HSCRP as surrogate marker in predicting long term effect of bariatric surgery on resolution of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is closely associated with obesity and is one of the important etiologies of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC and liver failure. Bariatric surgery is proven to be effective in causing weight loss and improvement of NASH) but there is limited long term data. OBJECTIVES: To identify the predictors of NASH in morbidly obese patients and evaluate long term data of bariatric surgery effects on NASH. METHODS: 308 bariatric patients (mean age 30.2 years old, body mass index (BMI) 45.0 kg/m2) with concurrent liver biopsy form 2003 to 2008 were included. We compared the clinical data between the NASH and non-NASH group and identify predictors of NASH in this cohort of patients. Remission of NASH was evaluated using the predictor of NASH. RESULTS: Prevalence of NASH was 43.8%. At baseline, the NASH and non-NASH groups both had similar age, BMI and sex ratio but the NASH group had significantly worse glycemic control, liver enzymes, triglycerides and uric acid. Highly sensitive-C Reactive Protein (HSCRP) level was identified as the only independent predictor of NASH. Ten years follow up (60.4% loss to follow up) showed good weight loss, resolution of co-morbidities and reduction of HSCRP. Patients with bypass surgery had better weight loss and lower levels of HSCRP. (HSCRP 0.2 ± 0.1 mg/dL vs. 0.8 ± 0.7 mg/dL, p = 0.009). than non-bypass group. CONCLUSION: NASH is common in bariatric patients. HSCRP is the only independent predictor of NASH and can be used as a surrogate marker in predicting long term effect of Bariatric Surgery on resolution of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis Bypass procedure was better in resolution of NASH than non-bypass procedure.

Long-term effect of bariatric surgery on resolution of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH): An external validation and application of a clinical NASH score.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an important etiology of end-stage liver disease. Long-term effect of bariatric surgery in improvement of NASH is not clear. OBJECTIVES: To validate a scoring system for predicting NASH in morbidly obese patients and using it to evaluate the long-term effect of bariatric surgery on NASH. SETTING: Tertiary referral hospital, Taiwan. METHODS: A new 5-point clinical NASH (C-NASH) score incorporating body mass index, alanine aminotransferase, and triglyceride was validated in a group of 307 bariatric patients (mean age 30.2 years, incorporating body mass index 45.0 kg/m2) with concurrent liver biopsy from 2003 to 2008. Remission of NASH in 5741 obese patients undergoing bariatric/metabolic surgery with long-term follow-up was then evaluated using the C-NASH score. RESULTS: Among 307 patients with liver biopsy, the prevalence of NASH was 44.0%. At baseline, the NASH group had significantly worse fasting glucose levels, triglycerides, uric acid, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma glutamyl transferase, and glycated hemoglobin. The diagnostic sensitivity of C-NASH score was 84.4%, and the accuracy was 68.4%. Among 5741 bariatric patients, the prevalence of high risk for NASH evaluated by C-NASH score was 40.9%. Postoperative follow-up showed good weight loss and almost complete remission of high risk for NASH up to 10 years. Patients with gastric banding had less weight loss, higher mean level of C-NASH score, and a higher incidence of high risk for NASH compared with other procedures at follow-up. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that improvement in C-NASH score suggesting remission of NASH is durable up to 10 years in all kinds of bariatric procedures.