Therapeutic effects of sleeve gastrectomy for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis estimated by paired liver biopsy in morbidly obese Japanese patients

Remission of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis after bariatric surgery: a single referral center cohort study

BACKGROUND

Obesity is associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which leads to an increased rate of primary liver cancers, cirrhosis, and decreased life expectancy. Metabolic/bariatric surgery (MBS) determines long-term weight loss and the resolution of obesity-related medical problems.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of MBS on liver histologic features in individuals with obesity.

SETTING

Tertiary referral university hospital.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed data on 37 patients undergoing MBS from a prospectively held database. All patients had a liver biopsy at the time of MBS and a second liver biopsy in case of further surgery or for NASH follow-up. Eighteen patients had NASH on the first liver biopsy. The primary endpoint was the resolution of steatohepatitis without worsening of fibrosis on the second liver biopsy. Secondary endpoints were the evolution of liver steatosis, hepatocyte ballooning, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score, and biochemical parameters from the time of the first to the second liver biopsy.

RESULTS

Fifteen (83.3%) patients had significant resolution of steatohepatitis (P < .001) without fibrosis worsening. There was a statistically significant improvement of all blood tests except for low-density lipoprotein, alkaline phosphatases, and bilirubinemia. The Homeostatic Model Assessment (HOMA) index was significantly improved after MBS (P < .001), and circulating insulin and leptin concentrations were significantly reduced. Mean weight loss was 47 kg, with a 16.6 kg/m2 body mass index reduction and a % of total weight loss (%TWL) of 40.3 ±14% from the moment of MBS to the last follow-up.

CONCLUSION

MBS is effective in determining NASH regression without fibrosis worsening and in reducing HOMA index and leptin and insulin concentrations.

Changes in Hepatic Fat Content by CT 1 Year After Sleeve Gastrectomy in Adolescents and Young Adults With Obesity

CONTEXT

Obesity is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is an effective means of weight loss and improvement of NAFLD in adults; however, data regarding the efficacy of SG in the early stages of pediatric NAFLD are sparse.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of SG on hepatic fat content 1 year after SG in youth with obesity compared with nonsurgical controls with obesity (NS).

DESIGN

A 12-month prospective study in 52 participants (mean age, 18.2 ± .36 years) with obesity, comprising 25 subjects who underwent SG (84% female; median body mass index [BMI], 44.6 [42.1-47.9] kg/m2) and 27 who were NS (70% female; median BMI, 42.2 [38.7-47.0] kg/m2).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Hepatic fat content by computed tomography (liver/spleen ratio), abdominal fat by magnetic resonance imaging.

RESULTS

Mean 12-month decrease in BMI was greater in SG vs NS (-12.5 ± .8 vs -.2 ± .5 kg/m2, P < .0001). There was a within-group increase in the liver-to-spleen (L/S) ratio in SG (.13 ± .05, P = .014) but not NS with a trend for a difference between groups (P = .055). All SG participants with an L/S ratio <1.0 (threshold for the diagnosis of NAFLD) before surgery had a ratio of >1.0 a year after surgery, consistent with resolution of NAFLD. Within SG, the 12-month change in L/S ratio was negatively associated with 12-month change in visceral fat (ρ = -.51 P = .016).

CONCLUSIONS

Hepatic fat content as assessed by noncontrast computed tomography improved after SG over 1 year in youth with obesity with resolution of NAFLD in all subjects. This was associated with decreases in visceral adiposity.

The involvement of circulating CD69+ CD56bright natural killer cells in weight loss before bariatric surgery: A retrospective cohort study

As the impact of the immune system on weight loss prior to bariatric surgery has never been proven, we elucidated the clinical utility of the immune system as an indicator of preoperative weight loss before bariatric surgery. We examined the relationships between preoperative weight loss and biochemical and clinical data at the initial visit in 34 obese patients. Patients were divided according to preoperative weight loss, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were compared using flowcytometry. The Δpreoperative excess weight loss [Δpre-EWL: pre-EWL (%)/period of preoperative weight loss (days)] showed negative correlations with total and subcutaneous fat area (P = .02, r = -0.41, P = .02, r = -0.42 respectively). The Δpre-EWL and Δpreoperative total weight loss (Δpre-TWL) were negatively correlated with white blood cell count, lymphocyte count, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels at the initial visit (Δpre-EWL; P = .02, r = -0.37, P = .01, r = -0.41, P = .008, r = -0.45, Δpre-TWL; P = .01, r = -0.40, P = .01, r = -0.42, P = .01, r = -0.42, respectively). Multivariate regression modeling showed that both Δpre-EWL and Δpre-TWL were significantly associated with lymphocyte count (Δpre-EWL; P = .01, Δpre-TWL; P = .01). A comparison between the high (Δ pre-EWL > 0.098) and low weight loss group (Δ pre-EWL < 0.098) demonstrated a significant difference in the expression of the activation marker CD69 on CD56bright Natural killer (NK) cells (P = .01), whereas there was no difference in the frequency of T cells, Natural killer T cells, or NK cells. Additionally, high CRP levels were associated with CD69 expression in CD56bright NK cells (P = .01, R = 0.57). Peripheral lymphocytes, especially CD69-positive CD56bright NK cells, are involved in preoperative weight loss after bariatric surgery, and systemic inflammation may inhibit weight loss before surgery.

The Effect of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy on the Course of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Morbidly Obese Patients during One Year of Follow Up

BACKGROUND

Morbid obesity co-exists with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in up to 90% of cases. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy leads to a reduction in body mass and thus may improve the course of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy on the resolution of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

METHODS

The study included 55 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy at a tertiary institution. The analysis consisted of preoperative liver biopsy, abdominal ultrasound, weight loss parameters, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Fibrosis Score and selected laboratory parameters.

RESULTS

Before the surgery, 6 patients were diagnosed with grade 1 liver steatosis, 33 patients with grade 2 and 16 patients with grade 3. One year after the surgery, only 21 patients had features of liver steatosis at ultrasound. All weight loss parameters showed statistically significant changes during the observation; the median percentage of total weight loss was 31.0% (IQR: 27.5; 34.5) with p = 0.0003, the median percentage of excess weight loss was 61.8% (IQR: 52.4; 72.3) with p = 0.0013 and the median percentage of excess body mass index loss was 71.0% (IQR: 61.3; 86.9) with p = 0.0036 12 months after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. The median Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Fibrosis Score at baseline was 0.2 (IQR: -0.8; 1.0) and decreased to -1.6 (IQR: -2.4; -0.4) (p < 0.0001). Moderate negative correlations between Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Fibrosis Score and percentage of total weight loss (r = -0.434, p < 0.0001), percentage of excess weight loss (r = -0.456, p < 0.0001) and percentage of excess body mass index loss (r = -0.512, p < 0.0001) were found.

CONCLUSIONS

The study supports the thesis that laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is an effective method for treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with morbid obesity.

Impact of pre-operative weight loss on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease histopathology and insulin resistance in individuals undergoing bariatric surgery: a propensity matched cross-sectional comparison

BACKGROUND

The effect of weight loss (WL) on histopathological aspects of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may provide further insights into the dynamics of hepatic recovery after WL.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the effects of pre-operative WL on insulin resistance- and NAFLD-related histology in individuals undergoing bariatric surgery (BS) with or without pre-operative WL.

DESIGN AND SETTING

A matched cross-sectional study was conducted at a public university hospital and a private clinic in Campinas, Brazil.

METHODS

An analytical, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted using prospectively collected databases of individuals who underwent BS and liver biopsy at either a public tertiary university hospital (with pre-operative WL) or a private clinic (without pre-operative WL). Random electronic matching by gender, age, and body mass index (BMI) was performed and two paired groups of 24 individuals each were selected.

RESULTS

Of the 48 participants, 75% were female. The mean age was 37.4 ± 9.6. The mean BMI was 38.9 ± 2.6 kg/m2. Fibrosis was the most common histopathological abnormality (91.7%). Glucose was significantly lower in the WL group (92 ± 19.1 versus 111.8 ± 35.4 mg/dL; P = 0.02). Significantly lower frequencies of macrovesicular steatosis (58.3% versus 95.8%; P = 0.004), microvesicular steatosis (12.5% versus 87.5%; P < 0.001), and portal inflammation (50% versus 87.5%; P = 0.011) were observed in the WL group.

CONCLUSION

Pre-operative WL was significantly associated with lower frequencies of macro- and mi- crovesicular steatosis, portal inflammation, and lower glycemia, indicating an association between the recent trajectory of body weight and histological aspects of NAFLD.

Bariatric endoscopic-surgical therapies for NAFLD. Should they be considered viable options among current treatments?

Nowadays, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is one of the first causes of liver transplant worldwide; many efforts have been done to find the perfect drug for this multifactorial disease. Presently we just have a few drugs that could be used in specific and limited clinical scenarios. Current evidence suggests that bariatric endoscopic and surgical therapies could be strategies with optimal outcomes, with high impact in quality of life, decrease of cardiovascular risk, and improvement in metabolic profile, despite being considered expensive procedures. This review proposes to consider these therapies early together with liver fibrosis evaluation, with long term cost-effectiveness benefits in the absence of response to lifestyle modifications and pharmacological treatments.