ACCURACY OF ELASTOGRAPHY IN THE ASSESSMENT OF REDUCTION IN LIVER STEATOSIS AND FIBROSIS IN THE EARLY POSTOPERATIVE PERIOD AFTER BARIATRIC SURGERY.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis is found in most obese patients and has a strong association with metabolic syndrome. The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and the sleeve gastrectomy are the two techniques of bariatric surgery. Patients who underwent bariatric surgery have regression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis due to a reduction in body mass index and changes in incretin hormones. AIMS: This study aimed to analyze the acuity of elastography in the regression of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in obese patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy 2 months after surgery. METHODS: Patients in the preoperative period of bariatric surgery underwent an anthropometric evaluation and hepatic elastography to quantify fibrosis and hepatic steatosis. Two months after surgery, the same evaluation was performed again. RESULTS: All 17 patients who met the inclusion criteria participated in the study. Out of this, nine underwent sleeve gastrectomy, and eight underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass group had lower fibrosis levels postoperatively compared to preoperatively (p=0.029, p<0.05). As for steatosis, patients who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass had lower postoperative values (p=0.01, p<0.05). There was also a reduction in fibrosis postoperatively in the sleeve gastrectomy group compared to preoperatively (p=0.037, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Elastography accurately demonstrated decreased hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in the early postoperative period of bariatric surgery. Moreover, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy are suitable surgical methods to improve hepatic steatosis and fibrosis within 2 months postoperatively.

Hígado agudo graso del embarazo: reporte de caso / Acute fatty liver of pregnancy: case report

El hígado graso del embarazo es una patología poco frecuente en la especialidad obstétrica, cuyo diagnóstico se realiza basado en los criterios de Swansea, muchas veces es un diagnóstico que se realiza por exclusión; usualmente se presenta entre las semanas 30 y 35 del embarazo, y la cura definitiva se realiza con la interrupción expedita del mismo; con una tasa de recuperación casi del 100% si se realiza la interrupción oportuna y una tasa de mortalidad materno fetal actual del 10%. Es importante estar atentos a la ganancia ponderal de la embarazada durante el control prenatal, la epigastralgia, y los signos clínicos asociados a hipoglicemia(AU)

Fatty liver of pregnancy is a rare pathology in obstetrics, whose diagnosis is made based on the Swansea criteria, many times it is a diagnosis that is made by exclusion; It usually occurs between weeks 30 and 35, and the definitive cure is carried out with the expeditious interruption of pregnancy; with a recovery rate of almost 100% if timely interruption is made and a current maternal-fetal mortality rate of 10%. It is important to be attentive to the weight gain of the pregnant woman during prenatal control, epigastric pain, and clinical signs associated with hypoglycemia

Liver steatosis in hypothalamic obese rats improves after duodeno-jejunal bypass by reduction in de novo lipogenesis pathway.

AIMS: Hypothalamic obesity is a severe condition without any effective therapy. Bariatric operations appear as an alternative treatment, but the effects of this procedure are controversial. We, herein, investigated the effects of duodeno-jejunal bypass (DJB) surgery upon the lipid profile and expression of genes and proteins, involved in the regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism, in hypothalamic obese (HyO) rats. METHODS: During the first 5days of life, male newborn Wistar rats received subcutaneous injections of monosodium glutamate [4g/kg body weight, HyO group] or saline (control, CTL group). At 90days of life, HyO rats were randomly submitted to DJB (HyO DJB) or Sham-operations (HyO Sham group). Six months after DJB, adiposity, hepatic steatosis and lipid metabolism were verified. KEY FINDINGS: HyO Sham rats were obese, hyperinsulinemic, insulin resistant and dyslipidemic. These rats had higher liver contents of trygliceride (TG) and presented disorganization of the hepatocyte structures, in association with higher hepatic contents of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid synthase (FASN), and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 mRNAs and protein. DJB surgery normalized insulinemia, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia in HyO rats. TG content in the liver and the hepatic microscopic structures were also normalized in HyO DJB rats, while the expressions of ACC and FASN proteins were decreased in the liver of these rodents. SIGNIFICANCE: The DJB-induced amelioration in hepatic steatosis manifested as a late effect in HyO rats, and was partly associated with a downregulation in hepatic de novo lipogenesis processes, indicating that DJB protects against liver steatosis in hypothalamic obesity.

Prevalence of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Steatohepatitis Risk Factors in Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) associated with obesity comprises pathological changes ranging from steatosis to steatohepatitis; these can evolve to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study are to assess the prevalence of and predictive markers for steatohepatitis in obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery. METHODS: A prospective study of 184 morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery formed the study cohort. Patients taking potentially hepatotoxic medications and those with viral diseases and a history of excessive alcohol consumption were excluded. Liver biopsies were performed during surgery with a "Trucut" needle. Patients were classified into the following groups according to the histopathological findings: normal, steatosis, mild steatohepatitis, and moderate-severe steatohepatitis. Factors associated with steatohepatitis were evaluated using logistic regression. p values <0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: The prevalence of NAFLD was 84 % (steatosis, 22.0 %; mild steatohepatitis, 30.8 %; moderate-severe steatohepatitis, 32.0 %). Independent predictive factors for steatohepatitis were age (odds ratio (OR), 1.05; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.01-1.09; p = 0.011), waist circumference (OR, 1.03; 95 % CI, 1.00-1.06; p = 0.021), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels (OR, 1.04; 95 % CI, 1.01-1.08; p = 0.005), and serum triglyceride levels (OR, 1.01; 95 % CI, 1.00-1.01; p = 0.042). Score values for each predictor were derived from regression coefficients and odds ratio, and a total (risk) score was obtained from the sum of the points to evaluate the probability of having steatohepatitis. CONCLUSION: Age, waist circumference, serum ALT levels, and serum triglyceride levels are efficient and non-invasive predictive markers for the diagnosis and management of steatohepatitis in morbidly obese patients.

The effects of glucose and lipids in steatotic and non-steatotic livers in conditions of partial hepatectomy under ischaemia-reperfusion.

BACKGROUND: Steatosis is a risk factor in partial hepatectomy (PH) under ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R), which is commonly applied in clinical practice to reduce bleeding. Nutritional support strategies, as well as the role of peripheral adipose tissue as energy source for liver regeneration, remain poorly investigated. AIMS: To investigate whether the administration of either glucose or a lipid emulsion could protect steatotic and non-steatotic livers against damage and regenerative failure in an experimental model of PH under I/R. The relevance of peripheral adipose tissue in liver regeneration following surgery is studied. METHODS: Steatotic and non-steatotic rat livers were subjected to surgery and the effects of either glucose or lipid treatment on damage and regeneration, and part of the underlying mechanisms, were investigated. RESULTS: In non-steatotic livers, treatment with lipids or glucose provided the same protection against damage, regeneration failure and ATP drop. Adipose tissue was not required to regenerate non-steatotic livers. In the presence of hepatic steatosis, lipid treatment, but not glucose, protected against damage and regenerative failure by induction of cell cycle, maintenance of ATP levels and elevation of sphingosine-1-phosphate/ceramide ratio and phospholipid levels. Peripheral adipose tissue was required for regenerating the steatotic liver but it was not used as an energy source. CONCLUSION: Lipid treatment in non-steatotic livers provides the same protection as that afforded by glucose in conditions of PH under I/R, whereas the treatment with lipids is preferable to reduce the injurious effects of liver surgery in the presence of steatosis.

Steatotic livers. Can we use them in OLTX? Outcome data from a prospective baseline liver biopsy study.

INTRODUCTION: Steatotic livers have been associated with greater risk of allograft dysfunction in liver transplantation. Our aim was to determinate the prevalence of steatosis in grafts from deceased donors in Chile and to assess the utility of a protocol-bench biopsy as an outcome predictor of steatotic grafts in our transplant program. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We prospectively performed protocol-bench graft biopsies from March 2004 to January 2009. Biopsies were analyzed and classified by two independent pathologists. Steatosis severity was graded as normal from absent to < 6%; grade 1: 6-33%; grade 2: > 33-66% and grade 3: > 66%. RESULTS: We analyzed 58 liver grafts from deceased donors. Twenty-nine grafts (50%) were steatotic; 9 of them (16%) with grade 3. Donor age (p < 0.001) and BMI over 25 kg/m 2 (p = 0.012) were significantly associated with the presence of steatosis. There were two primary non-functions (PNF); both in a grade 3 steatotic graft. The 3-year overall survival was lower among recipients with macrovesicular steatotic graft (57%) than recipients with microvesicular (85%) or non-steatotic grafts (95%) (p = 0.026). CONCLUSION: Macrovesicular steatosis was associated with a poor outcome in this series. A protocol bench-biopsy would be useful to identify these grafts.

An unusual cause of cancer mimicry following liver transplantation.

Sirolimus is an approved anti-rejection agent following liver or kidney transplantation that works through inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). As sirolimus functions through a pathway independent of calcineurin inhibition, it may have less potential for nephrotoxicity and carcinogenesis. That being said, there are a myriad of potential adverse effects reported with sirolimus, many of which are severe and unknown or poorly understood. Herein we present a case of sirolimus causing a serious but uncommon adverse event in an adult liver transplant recipient; the adverse event in this instance unfortunately resulted in significant medical testing and morbidity. The adverse event profile of sirolimus is summarized through review of available evidence.

Effect of bariatric surgery on liver fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Although bariatric surgery has been shown to improve hepatic steatosis in morbidly obese patients, the effect of weight loss on hepatic fibrosis has not been determined. Since the prognosis of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is closely related to the development of hepatic fibrosis, it is important to determine the hepatic histology of these patients after weight loss. We therefore evaluated the prevalence of hepatic fibrosis in morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery and assessed the correlation of histologic changes with weight loss. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 78 morbidly obese patients who underwent gastric bypass. Liver biopsies were taken during surgery and after weight loss, and the correlations between histologic findings and hepatic fibrosis were determined. RESULTS: Of the 78 patients, 35 (44.8%) had fibrosis at first biopsy, and 24 (30.8%) had hepatic fibrosis after weight loss, including 19 of the 35 patients (54.3%) with fibrosis at first biopsy and 5 of the 43 (11.6%) without hepatic fibrosis at first biopsy (P = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Weight loss in morbidly obese patients was associated with a reduction in the prevalence of hepatic fibrosis.

Decreased liver fatty acid delta-6 and delta-5 desaturase activity in obese patients.

Steatosis in obese nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients is a clinicopathological condition associated with depletion of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), a feature that may be related to PUFA desaturation. Liver Delta-6 and Delta-5 desaturase (Delta-6D and Delta-5D) activities, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA(IR)), and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) were evaluated in 13 obese patients who underwent subtotal gastrectomy with gastro-jejunal anastomosis in Roux-en-Y and 15 nonobese patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (controls). Liver Delta-6D and Delta-5D activities in obese patients were 87% and 66% lower than controls (P < 0.001), respectively, with a 62% diminution in the Delta-6D/Delta-5D activity ratio (P < 0.02). Delta-6D inversely correlated with both HOMA(IR) (r = -0.70, P < 0.0001) and oxidative stress assessed as the reciprocal value of FRAP (r = -0.40, P < 0.05). Delta-5D negatively correlated with HOMA(IR) (r = -0.48, P < 0.01) but not with FRAP(-1) (r = -0.13, not significant). In conclusion, liver PUFA desaturation is diminished in obese NAFLD patients, in association with underlying insulin resistance and oxidative stress, which may play a role in altering lipid metabolism favoring fatty infiltration.

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy.

A 17-year-old-female at 39 weeks gestation, presented with pelvic pain, proteinuria and a decrease in fetal heart rate. Timely caesarean section was performed. The postoperative course was complicated by acute renal failure, acute pancreatitis, acute liver failure, anemia, thrombocytopenia, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), prolonged coagulopathy, hyperbilirubinemia, ecclampsia, and psychosis. The clinical features and laboratory abnormalities, in conjunction with the timing of gestational age, led to the diagnosis of acute fatty liver of pregnancy. Prompt diagnosis and supportive care in an intensive care unit provided for a positive outcome.

Liver NF-kappaB and AP-1 DNA binding in obese patients.

Oxidative stress and insulin resistance (IR) are major contributors in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and in the progression from steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Our aim was to assess nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and activating protein-1 (AP-1) activation and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression as signaling mechanisms related to liver injury in obese NAFLD patients, and examined potential correlations among them, oxidative stress, and IR. Liver NF-kappaB and AP-1 (electromobility shift assay (EMSA)), TLR4 expression (western blot), ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), and IR evolution (HOMA) were evaluated in 17 obese patients who underwent subtotal gastrectomy with gastro-jejunal anastomosis in Roux-en-Y and 10 nonobese subjects who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (controls). Liver NF-kappaB and AP-1 DNA binding were markedly increased in NASH patients (n = 9; P < 0.05) compared to controls, without significant changes in NAFLD patients with steatosis (n = 8), whereas TLR4 expression was comparable between groups. Hepatic NF-kappaB activation was positively correlated with that of AP-1 (r = 0.79; P < 0.0001); both liver NF-kappaB and AP-1 DNA binding were inversely associated with FRAP (r = -0.43 and r = -0.40, respectively; P < 0.05) and directly correlated with HOMA (r = 0.66 and r = 0.62, respectively, P < 0.001). Data presented show enhanced liver activation of the proinflammatory transcription factors NF-kappaB and AP-1 in obese patients with NASH, parameters that are significantly associated to oxidative stress and IR.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in severely obese individuals: the influence of bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is the most frequent risk factor associated with NAFLD, and bariatric surgery (BAS) is traditionally indicated for the treatment of severely obese individuals. Here, we discuss the behavior and prognosis of this liver disease following post-surgical weight loss. AIM: To evaluate the influence of the BAS on the clinical and biochemical parameters of NAFLD in severely obese patients. METHODOLOGY: An intervention study included obese individuals (BMI > or = 35kg/m2), who had been submitted to liver biopsy during BAS and had NAFLD. HAIR (hypertension, ALT and insulin resistance and BAAT (BMI, ALT, age and triglycerides) scores and FLI (Fatty Liver Index) were used to compare the patients at the time of surgery, and 12-30 months following weight loss. RESULTS: From October 2004 to September 2007, 122 patients were diagnosed with NAFLD, 40 of whom agreed to participate in the study. The mean age was 37.7 +/- 12.5 years, 60% were women and 80% had steatohepatitis (NASH) with fibrosis upon analysis of the liver biopsy performed during BAS. Mean weight loss was 46.0 +/- 2.0 kg. After 21 +/- 5.8 months of follow-up, a significant improvement was found in all the variables analyzed (79.3% according to the HAIR scores, 95.2% as measured by the BAAT score and 72.5% by the FLI. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that treatment of obesity by bariatric surgery may influence the prognosis of NAFLD. In addition to weight loss, we observed improvement in the clinical and biochemical parameters related to NAFLD, such as anthropometrics index, hypertension, aminotransferases, triglycerides and insulin resistance.

[Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: evolution after gastric bypass]. / Doença hepática não-alcoólica: evolução após derivação gastrojejunal em Y-de-Roux pela técnica de fobi-Capella.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is highly prevalent among morbidly obese patients and can progress from steatosis to steatohepatitis and chronic liver disease. AIM: To determine the effect of gastric bypass operation in the incidence of fatty liver disease and associated co-morbidities in morbidly obese patients. METHODS: Patients were prospectively evaluated in the pre-operative period and after at least 6 months after operation. We analysed: antropometric data, co-morbidities, use of medications, cholesterol and triglycerides levels, liver tests and incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. All patients with abnormal liver tests were subjected to per-operative liver biopsy. RESULTS: Twenty eight patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with a mean body mass index of 42 +/- 4 kg/m(2) were evaluated. Twenty five patients had 59 co-morbidities and the most frequent were: elevated triglycerides (n = 23), elevated cholesterol (n = 13) and elevated blood pressure (n = 11). Biopsy was done in 22 patients: 10 presented moderate steatosis, 5 mild steatosis and 7 steatohepatitis. After follow-up of 230 days in average they presented weight excess loss of 64%, body mass index reduction to 29,6 +/- 3 kg/m(2) and 21 co-morbidities in 13 patients. There was a significant decrease in the number of patients with elevated triglycerides, elevated cholesterol, elevated blood pressure and in the incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. CONCLUSION: The weight loss secondary to the gastric bypass is associated with decrease in the incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and other co-morbidities.

Effects of bariatric surgery on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: preliminary findings after 2 years.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Although nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is very common among morbidly obese patients, the effect of weight loss after bariatric surgery on inflammation and fibrosis related to NAFLD is still a matter of debate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery on NAFLD with a follow up of 2 years. METHODS: Eighteen consecutive NAFLD patients with body mass index >40 kg/m(2) undergoing gastroplasty with RYGB were enrolled, and wedge liver biopsy was obtained at the operation. After 2 years, these patients underwent percutaneous liver biopsy. RESULTS: At baseline, 67% of patients had nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and 33% had steatosis, according to the NASH Clinical Research Network Scoring System (NAS) for biopsy. Cirrhosis was present in 5.5% of the patients with NASH. After a mean excess weight loss of 60%, steatosis disappeared in 84% and fibrosis disappeared in 75% of the patients. Hepatocellular ballooning disappeared in 50%. A slight lobular inflammatory infiltrate remained in 81%, apparently unrelated to fatty degeneration. As liver biochemical variables had been found within normal limits in 92.3% of patients at initial biopsy, no difference was found 2 years later. Lipid profile and blood sugar plasma concentration were closer to normal in all patients after 2 years (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Aspects of NAFLD including steatohepatitis improved significantly with massive weight loss at 2 years after RYGB surgery. No patient in this series had progression of hepatic fibrosis.

Doença hepática não-alcoólica: evolução após derivação gastrojejunal em Y-de-Roux pela técnica de fobi-capella / Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: evolution after gastric bypass

RACIONAL: A doença hepática não-alcoólica apresenta alta prevalência entre pacientes com obesidade mórbida, podendo evoluir de esteatose hepática até esteatohepatite e cirrose. OBJETIVO: Determinar o efeito da derivação gástrica na incidência de doença hepática não-alcoólica e co-morbidades relacionadas em pacientes com obesidade mórbida. MÉTODOS: Os pacientes foram prospectivamente avaliados no pré-operatório e, no mínimo, após 6 meses de pós-operatório. Foram analisados: dados antropométricos, co-morbidades, medicamentos em uso, colesterol, triglicerídeos, provas hepáticas e incidência de doença hepática não-alcoólica. Todos os pacientes com alteração de provas hepáticas foram submetidos a biopsia hepática no peroperatório. RESULTADO: Vinte e oito pacientes com doença hepática não-alcoólica foram incluídos no estudo com índice de massa corpórea médio de 42 ± 4 kg/m². Vinte e cinco pacientes apresentaram 59 co-morbidades, sendo as mais freqüentes: elevação de triglicerídeos (n = 23), elevação de colesterol total (n = 13) e hipertensão arterial (n = 11). Foram submetidos a biopsia 22 pacientes: 10 apresentaram esteatose macrogoticular moderada, 5 esteatose macrogoticular discreta e 7 esteatohepatite. Os doentes foram analisados em média após 230 dias de pós-operatório. Apresentaram perda de 64 por cento do excesso de peso, redução do índice de massa corpórea médio para 29,6 ± 3 kg/m² e 21 co-morbidades em 13 pacientes. Houve diminuição estatisticamente significante do número dos acometidos de elevação de triglicerídeos, elevação de colesterol total, hipertensão arterial e na incidência de doença hepática não-alcoólica. CONCLUSÃO: A perda de peso proporcionada pela derivação gastrojejunal em Y-de-Roux pela técnica de Fobi-Capella em pacientes com doença hepática não-alcoólica está associada à diminuição de sua incidência e de outras co-morbidades.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is highly prevalent among morbidly obese patients and can progress from steatosis to steatohepatitis and chronic liver disease. AIM: To determine the effect of gastric bypass operation in the incidence of fatty liver disease and associated co-morbidities in morbidly obese patients. METHODS: Patients were prospectively evaluated in the pre-operative period and after at least 6 months after operation. We analysed: antropometric data, co-morbidities, use of medications, cholesterol and triglycerides levels, liver tests and incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. All patients with abnormal liver tests were subjected to per-operative liver biopsy. RESULTS: Twenty eight patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with a mean body mass index of 42 ± 4 kg/m² were evaluated. Twenty five patients had 59 co-morbidities and the most frequent were: elevated triglycerides (n = 23), elevated cholesterol (n = 13) and elevated blood pressure (n = 11). Biopsy was done in 22 patients: 10 presented moderate steatosis, 5 mild steatosis and 7 steatohepatitis. After follow-up of 230 days in average they presented weight excess loss of 64 percent, body mass index reduction to 29,6 ± 3 kg/m² and 21 co-morbidities in 13 patients. There was a significant decrease in the number of patients with elevated triglycerides, elevated cholesterol, elevated blood pressure and in the incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. CONCLUSION: The weight loss secondary to the gastric bypass is associated with decrease in the incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and other co-morbidities.

Regeneração hepática em ratos submetidos à hepatectomia parcial: efeito da desnutrição protéica e da renutrição pré-operatória / Liver regeneration in rats after partial hepatectomy: effects of protein malnutrition and pre-operative renutrition

Devido a escassez de órgãos e a crescente lista de hepatopatas candidatos ao transplante surgiram técnicas capazes de utilizar apenas segmentos do fígado. Nesses casos, o sucesso do transplante, tanto para o doador quanto para o receptor está diretamente relacionado com a capacidade de regeneração hepática...

Liver transplantation is the ultimate therapy for end-stage liver disease (ESLD). Few organs donors and increasing amount of patients lead to a development of techniques were only a part the liver is used, such as split-liver and living on proliferative...

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass improves the nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) of morbid obesity.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic steatosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) have been increasingly implicated in the genesis of hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, no consensus exists about whether weight reduction may reverse this process. METHODS: To assess the effect of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) on the histological evolution of NASH diagnosed in 64 patients by routine liver biopsy ("first" biopsy) performed during surgery, we performed a "second" biopsy after 23.5 +/- 8.4 months in 16 patients (14 female, 2 male). RESULTS: From the first to the second biopsy, BMI decreased from 53.4 +/- 8.8 kg/m2 to 31.1 +/- 4.7 kg/m2, arterial hypertension decreased from 75% to 43.8%, and type 2 diabetes decreased from 43.8% to zero. On the first biopsy, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) type 3 was observed in 12 patients (75%) and type 4 in 4 (25%). The second biopsy revealed complete regression of NAFLD in 15 patients (93.7%) and only 1 (6.3%) had NAFLD type 1 (mild steatosis without inflammation). Complete regression of necroinflammatory activity was observed in all patients. Among the 4 patients presenting fibrosis in the first biopsy, complete remission was observed in 1 and improvement in 1. Two continued to show the same degree of fibrosis without evidence of disease activity. No worsening of steatosis, necroinflammatory activity or fibrosis was observed in any of the patients, and none progressed to cirrhosis. CONCLUSION: RYGBP improves steatosis, necroinflammatory activity and hepatic fibrosis in patients with morbid obesity and NASH.