Normal transaminases in obese patients with metabolic associated steatohepatitis (MASH): a cohort of Peruvian patients.

INTRODUCTION: Metabolic associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is one of the most frequent causes of chronic liver disease. Liver transaminases are important biomarkers to measure liver injury, however, a proportion of patients with MASH may present with normal levels of transaminases. The levels of serum transaminases may not correlate with the severity of histopathological changes. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify the frequency of normal transaminases in obese patients with MASH, as well as to describe the clinical, biochemical and histological characteristics in this specific group of patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the bariatric surgery service of a private clinic. Obese patients older than 18 years with a body mass index (BMI) >30Kg/m2 and 2 co-morbidities undergoing a gastric sleeve surgery were included. Measurement of biochemical routine laboratory exams was performed. Insulin resistance was calculated using the homeostasis evaluation model (HOMA-IR). All patients underwent liver biopsies prior to surgery and the diagnosis of MASH was based on the Brunt criteria. RESULTS: 159 obese patients with MASH were included, of which 47.2% had normal transaminases and 52.8% elevated transaminases. Factors associated with alteration in transaminases were: being male OR=4.02 (95% CI: 2.03- 7.96; p<0.01), diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus OR=4.86 (95% CI: 1.97- 11.95; p<0.01) and levels of GGT >50 IU/L OR=7.50 (95% CI: 3.40-16.56; p<0.01). The values of HOMA-IR and GGT were significantly higher in the group of high transaminases (p<0.01). Differences in the degree of fibrosis were not associated with transaminases levels. CONCLUSION: In conclusion we found that the frequency of normal transaminases was 47.2% in obese patients with MASH. Factors associated with elevation in liver enzymes were being male, diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and elevation in GGT levels. The degree of fibrosis was not associated with elevations in liver transaminases. These findings suggest that transaminases levels alone are not accurate markers to assess liver injury, as they do not necessarily correlate with histological liver damage.

Normal transaminases in obese patients with metabolic associated steatohepatitis (MASH): a cohort of Peruvian patients

Introduction: Metabolic associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is one of the most frequent causes of chronic liver disease. Liver transaminases are important biomarkers to measure liver injury, however, a proportion of patients with MASH may present with normal levels of transaminases. The levels of serum transaminases may not correlate with the severity of histopathological changes. Objective: We aimed to identify the frequency of normal transaminases in obese patients with MASH, as well as to describe the clinical, biochemical and histological characteristics in this specific group of patients. Materials and methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the bariatric surgery service of a private clinic. Obese patients older than 18 years with a body mass index (BMI) >30Kg/m2 and 2 co-morbidities undergoing a gastric sleeve surgery were included. Measurement of biochemical routine laboratory exams was performed. Insulin resistance was calculated using the homeostasis evaluation model (HOMA-IR). All patients underwent liver biopsies prior to surgery and the diagnosis of MASH was based on the Brunt criteria. Results: 159 obese patients with MASH were included, of which 47.2% had normal transaminases and 52.8% elevated transaminases. Factors associated with alteration in transaminases were: being male OR=4.02 (95% CI: 2.037.96; p50 IU/L OR=7.50 (95% CI: 3.40-16.56; p<0.01). The values of HOMA-IR and GGT were significantly higher in the group of high transaminases (p<0.01). Differences in the degree of fibrosis were not associated with transaminases levels. Conclusion: In conclusion we found that the frequency of normal transaminases was 47.2% in obese patients with MASH. Factors associated with elevation in liver enzymes were being male, diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and elevation in GGT levels. The degree of fibrosis was not associated with elevations in liver transaminases. These findings suggest that transaminases levels alone are not accurate markers to assess liver injury, as they do not necessarily correlate with histological liver damage.

Introducción: La esteatohepatitis asociada metabólica (MASH) es una de las causas más frecuentes de enfermedad hepática crónica. Las transaminasas hepáticas son biomarcadores importantes para medir el daño hepático; sin embargo, una proporción de pacientes con MASH pueden presentar niveles normales de transaminasas. Los niveles de transaminasas séricas pueden no estar correlacionados con la gravedad de los cambios histopatológicos. Objetivo: Nuestro objetivo fue identificar la frecuencia de transaminasas normales en pacientes obesos con MASH, así como describir las características clínicas, bioquímicas e histológicas en este grupo específico de pacientes. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal retrospectivo en el servicio de cirugía bariátrica de una clínica privada. Se incluyeron pacientes obesos mayores de 18 años con índice de masa corporal (IMC) >30Kg/m2 y 2 comorbilidades sometidos a cirugía de manga gástrica. Se realizó la medición de los exámenes bioquímicos de laboratorio de rutina. La resistencia a la insulina se calculó mediante el modelo de evaluación de la homeostasis (HOMA-IR). Todos los pacientes se sometieron a biopsias hepáticas antes de la cirugía y el diagnóstico de MASH se basó en los criterios de Brunt. Resultados: Se incluyeron 159 pacientes obesos con MASH, de los cuales el 47,2% tenían transaminasas normales y el 52,8% transaminasas elevadas. Los factores asociados a la alteración de las transaminasas fueron: ser hombre OR=4,02 (IC 95%: 2,03-7,96; p50 UI/L OR=7,50 (IC 95%: 3,40-16,56; p<0,01). Los valores de HOMA-IR y GGT fueron significativamente mayores en el grupo de transaminasas altas (p<0,01). Las diferencias en el grado de fibrosis no se asociaron con los niveles de transaminasas. Conclusión: Encontramos que la frecuencia de transaminasas normales fue del 47,2% en pacientes obesos con MASH. Los factores asociados con la elevación de las enzimas hepáticas fueron el sexo masculino, el diagnóstico de diabetes mellitus y la elevación de los niveles de GGT. El grado de fibrosis no se asoció con elevaciones de las transaminasas hepáticas. Estos hallazgos sugieren que los niveles de transaminasas por sí solos no son marcadores precisos para evaluar el daño hepático, ya que no necesariamente se correlacionan con el daño hepático histológico.

International multicenter trial on clinical natural orifice surgery--NOTES IMTN study: preliminary results of 362 patients.

OBJECTIVES: Natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is evolving as a promising alternative for abdominal surgery. IMTN Registry was designed to prospectively document early results of natural orifice surgery among a large group of clinical cases. METHODS: Sixteen centers from 9 countries were approved to participate in the study, based on study protocol requirements and local institutional review board approval. Transgastric and transvaginal endoscopic natural orifice surgery was clinically applied in 362 patients. Intraoperative and postoperative parameters were prospectively documented. RESULTS: Mean operative time for transvaginal cholecystectomy was 96 minutes, compared with 111 minute for transgastric cholecystectomy. A general complication rate of 8.84% was recorded (grade I-II representing 5.8%, grade III-IV representing 3.04%). No requirement for any analgesia was found in one fourth of cholecystectomy and appendectomy patients. CONCLUSIONS: Results of clinical applications of NOTES in the IMTN Study showed the feasibility of different methods of this new minimally invasive alternative for laparoscopic and open surgery.

Early experience in human hybrid transgastric and transvaginal endoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal procedures have been performed for a long time through the anterior abdominal wall. Since the first reports in the 1980s, laparoscopy has become the standard for cholecystectomy, with many advantages over open procedures. Now a natural-orifice approach to the peritoneal cavity may further reduce the invasiveness of surgery by either diminishing or avoiding abdominal incisions. Several orifice routes to the abdominal cavity have been described: transgastric, transvaginal, transvesical, and transcolonic. Although most experiences with the porcine model showed the possibility of these approaches, few surgeons reported experiences with humans. The authors present their complete early experience with transgastric (TG) and transvaginal (TV) cholecystectomies in human beings. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients (4 males and 35 females) underwent hybrid NOTES procedures from January 2007 to January 2009. The mean age was 46 years (range = 19-83). The body mass index ranged from 20 to 41 and ASA was I-II. Transgastric (TG) cholecystectomy was performed in 27 patients and 12 patients had a transvaginal (TV) cholecystectomy. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 140 min. Although operative times were slightly shorter in the TG group 005B137 +/- 34.6 min (range = 75-195)] compared to the TV route [147 +/- 31.5 min (range = 95-220)], there were no significant differences between the two groups (p = 0.5, Mann-Whitney U test). Patients were started on liquids within 1 h and discharged 2 h later, except the last 11 TG patients, who went home 24 h later because of enrollment in a separate protocol. An overall 20% morbidity rate and no mortality were found. The complication rates for the TG and TV groups were 18% (5/27) and 25% (3/12), respectively, which was not statistically significant (p = 0.6, chi(2) test). Seventy-five percent of complications (6/8) occurred the first year and 25% (2/8) during the second year of our experience. CONCLUSION: Transgastric and transvaginal cholecystectomies are feasible. Although these NOTES procedures were laparoscopically assisted and current flexible endoscopes were used, it seems possible that major intra-abdominal surgeries may one day be performed without skin incisions. However, a learning curve is mandatory and, although there were no major bile duct injuries, there were NOTES-related complications. These trends toward incisionless surgery demand coordinated research in an interdisciplinary setting involving both surgeons and device manufacturers to further define appropriate indications, contraindications, and applications for natural-orifice surgery.