Benefits in Routinely Measured Liver Function Tests Following Bariatric Surgery: a Retrospective Cohort Study

Overview

Journal J Diabetes Metab Disord

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2023 Nov 17

PMID 37975098

Authors

Richard Roberts

David M Williams

Thinzar Min

Jonathan Barry

Jeffrey W Stephens

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Bariatric surgery is well-established to support long-term metabolic health benefits associated with considerable weight loss. Here, we aim to determine the longer-term impact of bariatric surgery on liver enzymes and associations with other metabolic improvements.

Methods: One hundred patients who underwent bariatric surgery between 2007 and 2014 were included, and changes in liver enzymes, anthropometric measures and other parameters were observed over a mean 9.8 years.

Results: At the time of surgery, the mean age was 45.4 ± 9.6 years, weight 141.2 ± 31.6 kg, and body mass index (BMI) 50.2 ± 10.1 kg/m. Most patients underwent sleeve gastrectomy [n = 71] with a mean follow-up duration 9.8 ± 2.3 years. From baseline, alanine transaminase (ALT) reduced by 41.3% within 12 months post-operatively (36.6 ± 29.2 U/L to 21.5 ± 14.9 U/L, p < 0.001), which was sustained at recent follow-up (20.2 ± 10.7 U/L, p < 0.001). There were associated reductions in body weight, BMI, HbA1c, blood pressure and triglycerides. Patients with greater baseline ALT had the greatest reduction in ALT over follow-up.

Conclusions: Bariatric surgery is associated with rapid and sustained improvements in routine liver enzymes at 10 years, and sustained improvements in features of the metabolic syndrome.

Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-023-01311-4.

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