RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of bariatric surgery on serum ghrelin in patients with morbid obesity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We experimentally analyzed serum ghrelin in 96 rats. Of these, 84 rats underwent sleeve gastrectomy, and 12 rats comprised the control group (no surgery). We measured body weight and serum ghrelin using ELISA method after 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 30 days after surgery. Serum ghrelin was studied before and after bariatric surgery in 23 patients with morbid obesity. RESULTS: Baseline serum ghrelin was lower in larger rats and obese patients compared to normal body weight. We found no decrease in serum ghrelin after resection of fundal ghrelin-releasing part of the stomach. CONCLUSION: Stomach volume changes after restrictive bariatric surgery (sleeve resection or gastroplication) are accompanied by mild increase in serum ghrelin. This increment is greater after more significant body weight loss after surgery. Similar researches will help to find new treatment strategies for pathological obesity.
