RESUMO
BACKGROUND: There are differences in the levels of inflammation mediators, lipids, and formed elements of the blood in morbidly obese patients compared with individuals of normal weight. In the current study, the change in these parameters was determined in patients who achieved weight loss by undergoing laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) by comparing preoperative, and early (3 months) and late (12 months) postoperative values. METHODS: The body mass index (BMI), weight, blood pressure, and waist circumference of 72 patients treated by LAGB procedures between September 2006 and February 2009 were measured and recorded. Pre- and postoperative 3- and 12-month C-reactive protein (CRP), immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgA, IgM, fibrinogen (Fbg), complement components C3 and C4, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein-C and high-density lipoprotein-C levels, and leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet counts were also measured. Results were presented as mean +/- SD. The preoperative values were compared with the 3- and 12-month values. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: BMI, weight, blood pressure, and waist circumference measurements were reduced at 3 and 12 months postoperatively compared with preoperative values (p < 0.05). Among the inflammatory mediators, IgG, IgM, and Fbg were reduced to near-normal values, beginning in the early postoperative period (p < 0.05). There was no significant reduction parallel to weight loss with respect to CRP, C3, C4, and IgA values at 3 months postoperatively (p > 0.05). However, the 12-month values of these parameters were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Morbid obesity leads to significant changes in the levels of inflammation mediators. While there is a significant reduction in some of these mediators accompanying slight weight loss in the early period following an LAGB procedure, significant changes occur in other mediators in the late period when there is a larger amount of weight loss.
