Predictors of type-2 diabetes remission following bariatric surgery after a two-year follow-up.

PURPOSE: Bariatric surgery is evolving as a successful tool for managing morbid obesity and T2DM. This study aimed to identify predictors of diabetes remission after two types of bariatric procedures. METHODS: This prospective study enrolled 172 patients with morbid obesity associated with T2DM scheduled for bariatric surgery. Two laparoscopic bariatric procedures were done; single anastomosis gastric bypass (SAGB, n = 83) and sleeve gastrectomy (LSG, n = 68). Lipid accumulation product index (LAP) and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) were used to evaluate lipid profile and insulin sensitivity. Two years after surgery condition of DM was evaluated as complete remission (CR), partial remission (PR), or improvement. The primary outcome measure was predictors of diabetes remission. RESULTS: Two years after surgery, 151 patients were available for evaluation, where 75 patients (49.7%) achieved CR, while PR was found in 36 (23.8%). CR was significantly associated with younger age, shorter duration of DM (p < 0.001, for both), higher C-peptide and GLP-1 levels (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively), and bypass surgery (p = 0.027). On multivariate analysis, shorter duration of DM, lower BMI, and higher C-peptide levels were the independent factors predicting CR. CONCLUSION: Complete remission of T2DM can be achieved in nearly half of the patients two years after SG or SAGB. The duration of diabetes and preoperative BMI and C-peptide levels are the independent factors predicting complete remissions.

Secondary Hyperparathyroidism Before and After Bariatric Surgery: a Prospective Study with 2-Year Follow-Up.

PURPOSE: Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is linked to obesity. Bariatric surgery may be associated with calcium and vitamin D deficiencies leading to SHPT. This study aimed to detect the prevalence of SHPT before and after bariatric surgery. METHODS: This prospective study assessed the prevalence of SHPT after sleeve gastrectomy (SG, n = 38) compared to one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB, n = 86). All patients were followed up for 2 years. Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Of the 124 patients, 71 (57.3%) were females, and 53 (42.7%) were males, with a mean age of 37.5 ± 8.8 years. Before surgery, 23 patients (18.5%) suffered from SHPT, and 40 (32.3%) had vitamin D deficiency. The prevalence of SHPT increased to 29.8% after 1 year and 36.3% after 2 years. SHPT was associated with lower levels of vitamin D and calcium and higher reduction of BMD in the hip but not in the spine. After 2 years, SHPT was associated with a significantly lower T-score in the hip. SHPT and vitamin D deficiency were significantly more common in patients subjected to OAGB compared to SG (p = 0.003, and p < 0.001, respectively). There is a strong negative correlation between vitamin D levels and parathormone levels before and after surgery. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of SHPT is high in obese patients seeking bariatric surgery, especially with lower vitamin D levels. Bariatric surgery increases the prevalence of SHPT up to 2 years. Gastric bypass is associated with a higher risk of developing SHPT compared to SG.

Ursodeoxycholic acid for the prevention of gall stones after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a prospective controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a risk factor for cholelithiasis. Besides, rapid weight loss after bariatric surgery upsurges the rate of cholelithiasis and acute cholecystitis. This study aimed to compare gallstone development frequency after LSG under ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) prophylaxis. METHODS: This prospective controlled study included 332 patients scheduled for LSG randomized to receive 500 mg UDCA daily for 12 months (UDCA Group) or no treatment (Control Group). Ultrasonography was done 6 and 12 months after surgery to detect gallstones. Cholecystectomy was done for complicated cases of cholelithiasis. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients were lost to follow-up, and 3 developed severe adverse effects of UDCA and excluded. Data are presented for 130 patients in the UDCA group and 128 in the Control group. Collectively, 11 patients (8.5%) of the UDCA group and 41 (32.0%) of the Control group developed gall stones during the first postoperative year (p < 0.001). Cholecystectomy was indicated in 3 patients (2.3%) of the UDCA group and 9 (7.0%) of the Control group (p = 0.072). On multivariate analysis, higher BMI, dyslipidemia, and lacking UDCA prophylaxis were the independent factors significantly associated with stone development. Also, stone development was associated with higher weight loss after 6 and 12 months. CONCLUSION: UDCA 500 mg once daily for 12 months after LSG is effective in reducing gallstone formation at 1 year. UDCA administration reduced the frequency of cholecystectomies from 7 to 2.3%. High BMI and dyslipidemia are the independent preoperative factors significantly associated with stone development.

Improvement of Coronary Calcium Scores After Bariatric Surgery in People with Severe Obesity.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) is a direct measure of coronary atherosclerosis. The study investigated the effect of bariatric surgery on CAC scores in people with severe obesity subjected to laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). METHODS: This prospective study included 129 people with severe obesity in two groups; the LSG group (n=74) subjected to surgery and the diet group (n=55), managed by a diet regimen and lifestyle modification. Cardiovascular risk was assessed by Framingham risk score (FRS) and coronary calcium score (CCS) measured by computed tomography initially and after 3 years. RESULTS: The two groups had a comparable CAD risk before treatment according to FRS or CCS. After treatment, CCS improved significantly in the LSG group (p=0.008) but not in the diet group (p=0.149). There was no correlation between FRS and CCS (r=0.005, p=0.952). Treatment resulted in significant weight reduction and improved fasting blood glucose and lipid profile in the two groups. The change of weight, blood glucose, and HDL, and remission of diabetes mellitus (DM) were significantly higher in the LSG group compared to the diet group. CONCLUSION: LSG may reduce the risk of developing future cardiovascular comorbidities evidenced by reducing CAC scores. Significant weight reduction and improvement of cardiovascular risk factors may recommend LSG as a cardioprotective procedure in people with severe obesity.

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy has A Positive Impact on Subclinical Hypothyroidism Among Obese Patients: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: The effect of bariatric surgery on postoperative thyroid function remains incompletely understood. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the changes in thyroid functions after gastric sleeve operation for morbidly obese Egyptian patients. METHODS: This was a prospective study that recruited 128 patients who underwent sleeve gastrectomy through the period from December 2016 to April 2020. We measured thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxin (FT4), and free triiodothyronine. Subclinical hypothyroidism was defined by a TSH level > 4.5 mIU/L but a normal FT4 level. All patients were followed for 12 months after the procedure. RESULTS: Preoperatively, 30 (23.4%) patients had subclinical hypothyroidism. The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism decreased significantly to reach 7.8% at the end of follow-up (p < 0.001). None of the patients developed de novo hypothyroidism at the end of follow-up. Patients with subclinical hypothyroidism were more likely to be females (p = 0.037) and had significantly higher waist circumference (p < 0.001), DBP (p = 0.02), serum cholesterol (p < 0.001), and serum triglyceride (p < 0.001). However, patients with subclinical hypothyroidism at the end of follow-up had significantly higher BMI at the end of the sixth month (p = 0.048). Similarly, patients with subclinical hypothyroidism at the end of follow-up had significantly higher serum cholesterol (p = 0.002), LDL, (p = 0.038), and serum triglyceride (p < 0.001) at the end of the sixth months of follow-up. A similar trend was noted at the end of the 12th month. The preoperative value of serum TSH correlated significantly with serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels. CONCLUSION: The positive effect of the LSG procedure on the hypothyroid bariatric population, including enhanced thyroid function, was demonstrated.

Effect of Bariatric Surgery on the Cardiovascular System in Obese Cases with Pulmonary Hypertension.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Recently, the incidence of obesity has been rising exponentially. Clinical studies have demonstrated that different subtypes of pulmonary hypertension (PH) are linked to obesity. The current work mainly aims to assess the impact of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on PH in a cohort of obese cases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The present prospective work included 37 obese cases with PH for whom LSG was done. Only cases with PH and presurgical right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) ≥ 35 mmHg using Doppler echocardiogram were enrolled. Fifteen months later, patients were reassessed regarding new weight and BMI in addition to changes in RVSP. RESULTS: At the end of follow-up, the average BMI improved from 45.8 + 3.9 to 33.8 + 2.5 Kg/m2 (p value < 0.001). Improved right ventricular (RV) size compared to baseline echo was observed in 20 patients. RV size decreased from 2.68 + 0.44 cm to 2.34 + 0.36 cm (p value < 0.001). Notable decrease of PH to less than 30 mmHg occurred in 33 patients. Mean RVSP decreased from 39.62 + 2.1 to 31.81 + 3.1 mmHg (p value < 0.001). LSG significantly decreased the requirements for PH drugs and supplemental oxygen therapy. CONCLUSION: The current work suggests that LSG-induced weight loss may result in a considerable decrease in pulmonary pressures as well as RV size with a concurrent resolution of other metabolic comorbidities.

Long-term effects of one-anastomosis gastric bypass on liver histopathology in NAFLD cases: a prospective study.

PURPOSE: Weight reduction can effectively improve nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is a constant companion of severe obesity. This study aimed to determine the effect of one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) on pathological liver changes in severely obese cases with NAFLD. METHODS: The present prospective research comprised 67 subjects with morbid obesity scheduled for OAGB during the period from February 2015 to August 2018. Clinical, biological, and histologic data were evaluated pre and 15 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Fifteen months after surgery, a considerable reduction was noted in the grades of fat deposition, liver cell ballooning, and lobular inflammatory changes, in addition to the total NAS score. Fifteen months after surgery, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) disappeared in 42% of the patients. A significant regression of fibrosis stage occurred after surgery in 79.1% of patients (p < 0.001). After surgery, patients had substantial reductions in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, γ-glutamyltransferase, HbA1c, total cholesterol, and Low-density lipoprotein (p < 0.001, for all comparisons). Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia resolved in 54%, 59%, and 69% of the patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: OAGB resolved NASH from nearly 42% of patients and reduced the histological features of NAFLD 15 months after surgery. Bariatric procedures might be adopted as a therapeutic modality in severely obese cases with NAFLD after the failure of lifestyle modifications.

Sarcopenia increases 1-year mortality after surgical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Liver resection is a well-recognized modality for hepatocellular carcinoma. Cirrhotic patients are more prone to adverse consequences after liver resection. This work assesses the prognostic significance of sarcopenic hepatocellular carcinoma cases for whom surgical resection was performed. METHODS: The present prospective work included 52 cirrhotic cases. Computed tomography scans were used to determine the skeletal muscle index (SMI) at the plane of the third lumbar vertebra (L3). L3 SMI was used for the definition of sarcopenia. The primary outcome measure was the predictive value of sarcopenia for 1-year post-hepatectomy mortality. RESULTS: Sarcopenia was diagnosed in 27 patients (51.9%). All patients had a Child-Turcotte-Pugh score A. At a 1-year follow-up, 20 cases died; that is the 1-year mortality rate was 38.5%. Sarcopenia was more commonly associated with older age and non-viral causes of cirrhosis. The risk of 1-year mortality is 7.6 times higher in sarcopenic patients with a risk ratio of 3.7 (95% confidence interval 1.4-9.6). CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia diagnosed using L3 SMI is an independent prognostic factor for 1-year deaths in cases with hepatic malignancy with Child-Turcotte-Pugh score A undergoing surgical resection.