The Benefit of Bariatric Surgery on Histological Features of Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease Assessed Through Noninvasive Methods.

BACKGROUND: In patients with clinically severe obesity, metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and steatohepatitis are highly prevalent. There is a lack of prospective studies evaluating the impact of bariatric surgery (BS) on MAFLD using both noninvasive and histological criteria. The present study aims to assess the impact of BS on MAFLD using histological and biochemical criteria. METHODS: This is a prospective study of 52 patients subjected to BS. Noninvasive fibrosis risk scores (NIFRS) along with anthropometric, clinical, and biochemical parameters were recorded pre- and 12 months post-BS. Liver biopsy was obtained in all individuals at baseline (wedge biopsy) and was repeated at 12 months (percutaneous Tru-cut) in those diagnosed with steatohepatitis. The primary outcome was the change in the degree of steatohepatitis and fibrosis. The secondary outcome was the change in scores for hepatocellular ballooning, lobular inflammation, steatosis, and fibrosis. RESULTS: One year after BS, steatohepatitis resolved in core biopsies with no worsening of fibrosis in 95.7% of individuals (n = 21, 95% CI: 87.3-100), and 13 (56.5%) exhibited complete resolution. Of 15 patients with fibrosis at baseline, 13 (86.7%) showed improvement and 12 exhibited fibrosis resolution. The values of transaminases improved, but only gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) showed statistical significance. Among the NIFRS, NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) and Hepamet fibrosis score (HFS) showed significant improvement. CONCLUSIONS: In the setting it was studied, BS improved or resolved steatohepatitis and fibrosis in patients with obesity. NIFRS, especially NFS and HFS, and levels of GGT could be used as markers of recovery of liver function after BS.

Prevalence and predictors of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in patients with morbid obesity.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is highly prevalent in morbid obesity (MO). A considerable proportion of patients with MO have non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Liver biopsy (LB) is the only procedure that reliably differentiates NASH from other stages of NAFLD, but its invasive nature prevents it from being generalisable. Hence, non-invasive assessment is critical in this group of patients. OBJECTIVES: To report NAFLD/NASH prevalence in a cohort of patients with MO and to identify predictors of NASH. METHODS: Fifty-two consecutive patients subjected to bariatric surgery in a University hospital in Spain underwent LB. Anthropometric, clinical and biochemical variables were registered. According of the results of the LB, individuals were classified by whether they had NASH or not. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent factors associated with NASH. RESULTS: NAFLD was reported in 94.2% of the patients, simple steatosis was present in 51.92% and NASH in 42.31%. Meanwhile, 17.3% of patients exhibited significant fibrosis (≥F2). HIGHT score for NASH risk was established using five independent predictors: systemic Hypertension, Insulin resistance, Gamma-glutamyl transferase, High density lipoprotein cholesterol and alanine Transaminase. This score ranges from 0 to 7 and was used to predict NASH in our cohort (area under the receiver operator characteristic curve 0.846). A score of 4 or greater implied high risk (sensitivity 77.3%, specificity 73.3%, positive predictive value 68%, negative predictive value 81.5%, accuracy 75%). CONCLUSIONS: NAFLD is practically a constant in MO with a considerable proportion of patients presenting NASH. The combination of five independent predictors in a scoring system may help the clinician optimise the selection of patients with MO for LB.

Prevalence and predictors of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in patients with morbid obesity.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is highly prevalent in morbid obesity (MO). A considerable proportion of patients with MO have non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Liver biopsy (LB) is the only procedure that reliably differentiates NASH from other stages of NAFLD, but its invasive nature prevents it from being generalisable. Hence, non-invasive assessment is critical in this group of patients. OBJECTIVES: To report NAFLD/NASH prevalence in a cohort of patients with MO and to identify predictors of NASH. METHODS: Fifty-two consecutive patients subjected to bariatric surgery in a University hospital in Spain underwent LB. Anthropometric, clinical and biochemical variables were registered. According of the results of the LB, individuals were classified by whether they had NASH or not. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent factors associated with NASH. RESULTS: NAFLD was reported in 94.2% of the patients, simple steatosis was present in 51.92% and NASH in 42.31%. Meanwhile, 17.3% of patients exhibited significant fibrosis (≥F2). HIGHT score for NASH risk was established using five independent predictors: systemic Hypertension, Insulin resistance, Gamma-glutamyl transferase, High density lipoprotein cholesterol and alanine Transaminase. This score ranges from 0 to 7 and was used to predict NASH in our cohort (area under the receiver operator characteristic curve 0.846). A score of 4 or greater implied high risk (sensitivity 77.3%, specificity 73.3%, positive predictive value 68%, negative predictive value 81.5%, accuracy 75%). CONCLUSIONS: NAFLD is practically a constant in MO with a considerable proportion of patients presenting NASH. The combination of five independent predictors in a scoring system may help the clinician optimise the selection of patients with MO for LB.

Performance of Noninvasive Liver Fibrosis Scores in the Morbid Obese Patient, Same Scores but Different Thresholds.

INTRODUCTION: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease. It is a spectrum of progressive alterations, with the final step in liver fibrosis which carries a high burden of long-term mortality. The scores used to predict liver fibrosis are not properly validated in morbid obesity (MO). Our aim was to evaluate the performance of seven risk scores in bariatric surgery (BS) patients. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis in a cohort of 60 patients with MO undergoing BS. Liver biopsy (LB) was taken and compared with fibrosis risk assessed by noninvasive scores: APRI, FIB-4, Forns, NFS (NAFLD fibrosis score), BARD, BAAT, and Hepamet. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC) and measures of diagnostic accuracy were calculated; performance of fibrosis scores was evaluated at standard threshold vs those suggested by ROC analysis. RESULTS: LB was available in 50 patients; 9 (18%) had significant fibrosis (F2-F4). The BARD and Forns scores best predicted the absence of fibrosis, both with negative predictive value (NPV) of 95.5%, with AUROC of 0.761 and 0.667, respectively. Modification of standard thresholds (2 for BARD and 6.9 for Forns) to those suggested by ROC analysis (3 and 3.6, respectively) improved performance of scores. Basal glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), aspartate transaminase (AST), and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) were identified by logistic regression analysis as independent predictor of fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Existing scoring systems are unable to stratify fibrosis risk in MO using established thresholds; its performance is improved if these cutoffs are modified.

[Bone microarchitecture and other body composition parameters in patients with overweight or obesity grouped by glucose metabolism disorders]. / Microarquitectura ósea y otros parámetros de composición corporal en pacientes con sobrepeso u obesidad agrupados según alteraciones del metabolismo hidrocarbonado.

INTRODUCTION: Introduction: obesity and DM-2 decrease trabecular bone mass even though cortical bone increase may coexist. Another common finding is presarcopenia/sarcopenia, possibly due to insulin resistance and oxidative stress. It remains to be clarified whether these changes depend on either early (prediabetes) or late (established DM) glucidic alterations, or rather they would be linked predominantly by excess fat mass in obese patients Objectives: to evaluate and compare body composition parameters (bone, muscle and adipose-visceral tissues) in overweight/obese patients grouped by whether or not they present glucidic metabolism disorders. Analyze if there are differences between FRAX vs FRAX adjusted to trabecular bone score TBS in both groups. Methods: sixteen overweight/obese patients were included. In all of them clinical-anthropometric evaluation, bioimpedance, DXA and analysis were performed. They were grouped by glycemia as: a) normal; b) impaired fasting glycemia (IFG); and c) DM-2. Non-parametric tests were performed. Results: no statistically significant differences were found among groups regarding bone microarchitecture, muscle mass or visceral fat. The IFG group showed the highest average muscle mass and visceral fat. Then, patients were reclassified in only two groups, normal glycemia in group 1 and altered glycemia in group 2 (IFG and DM-2), and statistically significant differences were found at the expense of lower trabecular bone microarchitecture in group 2 (p = 0.031) and phosphorus lower levels in group 1 (p = 0.042). Conclusions: in our study, the bone microarchitecture is impaired in patients with altered glycemia and obesity. Studies with larger sample size are needed to establish when these changes take place in the natural evolution of diabetes.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Introducción: la obesidad y la diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM-2) disminuyen el entramado trabecular óseo aun cuando puede coexistir aumento del hueso cortical. Otro hallazgo en común es la presarcopenia/sarcopenia secundaria posiblemente a la insulinorresistencia y el estrés oxidativo. Queda por aclarar si estos cambios dependen fundamentalmente de las alteraciones glucídicas precoces (pre DM-2) o tardías (DM-2 establecida), o más bien estarían vinculadas de forma predominante por el exceso de masa grasa en individuos obesos. Objetivos: evaluar y comparar parámetros de composición corporal (compartimentos óseo, muscular y adiposo-visceral) en pacientes con sobrepeso/obesidad agrupados según presenten o no alteraciones glucídicas. Analizar si existen diferencias comparando FRAX vs. FRAX ajustado a trabecular bone score (TBS) en ambos grupos. Métodos: se incluyeron 16 pacientes con sobrepeso/obesidad. A todos se les realizó evaluación clínica-antropométrica, bioimpedanciometría, absorciometría de rayos X de energía dual o densitometría ósea (DXA) y análisis, y se les agrupó según glucemia en tres grupos: a) normal; b) glucemia basal alterada en ayunas (GBA); y c) DM-2. Para el análisis estadístico empleamos pruebas no paramétricas. Resultados: no se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en los grupos respecto a microarquitectura ósea, masa muscular o grasa visceral. El grupo GBA mostró el mayor promedio de masa muscular y grasa visceral. Tras reclasificar en solo dos grupos, glucemia normal en el grupo 1 y glucemia alterada en el grupo 2 (GBA y DM-2), encontramos diferencias estadísticamente significativas con detrimento de la microarquitectura ósea trabecular en el grupo 2 (p = 0,031) y cifras de fósforo con niveles inferiores en el grupo 1 (p = 0,42). Conclusiones: en nuestro estudio, la microarquitectura ósea está deteriorada en pacientes con glucemia alterada y obesos. Hacen falta estudios con mayor tamaño muestral para establecer en qué momento se instauran estos cambios en la evolución natural de la diabetes.

Microarquitectura ósea y otros parámetros de composición corporal en pacientes con sobrepeso u obesidad agrupados según alteraciones del metabolismo hidrocarbonado / Bone microarchitecture and other body composition parameters in patients with overweight or obesity grouped by glucose metabolism disorders

Introducción: la obesidad y la diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM-2) disminuyen el entramado trabecular óseo aun cuando puede coexistir aumento del hueso cortical. Otro hallazgo en común es la presarcopenia/sarcopenia secundaria posiblemente a la insulinorresistencia y el estrés oxidativo. Queda por aclarar si estos cambios dependen fundamentalmente de las alteraciones glucídicas precoces (pre DM-2) o tardías (DM-2 establecida), o más bien estarían vinculadas de forma predominante por el exceso de masa grasa en individuos obesos. Objetivos: evaluar y comparar parámetros de composición corporal (compartimentos óseo, muscular y adiposo-visceral) en pacientes con sobrepeso/obesidad agrupados según presenten o no alteraciones glucídicas. Analizar si existen diferencias comparando FRAX vs. FRAX ajustado a trabecular bone score (TBS) en ambos grupos. Métodos: se incluyeron 16 pacientes con sobrepeso/obesidad. A todos se les realizó evaluación clínica-antropométrica, bioimpedanciometría, absorciometría de rayos X de energía dual o densitometría ósea (DXA) y análisis, y se les agrupó según glucemia en tres grupos: a) normal; b) glucemia basal alterada en ayunas (GBA); y c) DM-2. Para el análisis estadístico empleamos pruebas no paramétricas. Resultados: no se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en los grupos respecto a microarquitectura ósea, masa muscular o grasa visceral. El grupo GBA mostró el mayor promedio de masa muscular y grasa visceral. Tras reclasificar en solo dos grupos, glucemia normal en el grupo 1 y glucemia alterada en el grupo 2 (GBA y DM-2), encontramos diferencias estadísticamente significativas con detrimento de la microarquitectura ósea trabecular en el grupo 2 (p = 0,031) y cifras de fósforo con niveles inferiores en el grupo 1 (p = 0,42). Conclusiones: en nuestro estudio, la microarquitectura ósea está deteriorada en pacientes con glucemia alterada y obesos. Hacen falta estudios con mayor tamaño muestral para establecer en qué momento se instauran estos cambios en la evolución natural de la diabetes

Introduction: obesity and DM-2 decrease trabecular bone mass even though cortical bone increase may coexist. Another common finding is presarcopenia/sarcopenia, possibly due to insulin resistance and oxidative stress. It remains to be clarified whether these changes depend on either early (prediabetes) or late (established DM) glucidic alterations, or rather they would be linked predominantly by excess fat mass in obese patients Objectives: to evaluate and compare body composition parameters (bone, muscle and adipose-visceral tissues) in overweight/obese patients grouped by whether or not they present glucidic metabolism disorders. Analyze if there are differences between FRAX vs FRAX adjusted to trabecular bone score TBS in both groups. Methods: sixteen overweight/obese patients were included. In all of them clinical-anthropometric evaluation, bioimpedance, DXA and analysis were performed. They were grouped by glycemia as: a) normal; b) impaired fasting glycemia (IFG); and c) DM-2. Non-parametric tests were performed. Results: no statistically significant differences were found among groups regarding bone microarchitecture, muscle mass or visceral fat. The IFG group showed the highest average muscle mass and visceral fat. Then, patients were reclassified in only two groups, normal glycemia in group 1 and altered glycemia in group 2 (IFG and DM-2), and statistically significant differences were found at the expense of lower trabecular bone microarchitecture in group 2 (p = 0.031) and phosphorus lower levels in group 1 (p = 0.042). Conclusions: in our study, the bone microarchitecture is impaired in patients with altered glycemia and obesity. Studies with larger sample size are needed to establish when these changes take place in the natural evolution of diabetes