Histological Findings in the Liver Before and After Gastric Bypass (original) (raw)

Background: Bariatric surgery results in massive loss of excess weight, changes in co-morbidities and improvement in quality of life. In these patients, liver histology taken before or during surgery reveals several histological abnormalities. In a prospective study of patients previously submitted to gastric bypass, we determined the changes in liver histology late after the surgery. Methods: In 16 out of a total of 557 patients who were submitted to open gastric bypass, a second liver biopsy was taken during the repair of an incisional hernia, performed at a mean of 17 months after the gastric bypass. Results: All patients had lost weight, now having a mean BMI of 28.6 kg/m2 (which had been 44.3 kg/m2 before gastric bypass). One patient with normal pre-operative liver histology remained normal at the second study. 11 out of 15 who had had liver abnormalities returned to a normal condition or had only minimal change (73.3%). 2 patients (13.3%) showed improvement, while 1 patient presented a slight worsening of liver condition. One patient who had had liver cirrhosis showed no change. Conclusion: Gastric bypass for morbid obesity is followed by a dramatic improvement or normalization of liver histological abnormalities in the great majority of the patients. Liver cirrhosis in the one patient remained unchanged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Santiago, Chile
    Attila Csendes MD
  2. Gastrointestinal Pathology, University Hospital, Santiago, Chile
    Gladys Smok MD
  3. Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Santiago, Chile
    Ana Maria Burgos MD

Authors

  1. Attila Csendes MD
  2. Gladys Smok MD
  3. Ana Maria Burgos MD

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Csendes, A., Smok, G. & Burgos, A.M. Histological Findings in the Liver Before and After Gastric Bypass.OBES SURG 16, 607–611 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1381/096089206776944904

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