The impact of bariatric surgery on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease as measured using non-invasive tests.

Netanel C, Goitein D, Rubin M, Kleinbaum Y, Katsherginsky S

Abstract

Background

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is common in bariatric surgery candidates. We evaluated the effect of sleeve gastrectomy (SG) on NAFLD using validated non-invasive measures.

Methods

Patients with morbid obesity and NAFLD, planned for SG, were evaluated before and after surgery. Data collected included anthropometrics, biochemistry, adiponectin, SteatoTest™, NashTest™, FibroTest™, OWLiver® test and real-time ShearWave™ elastography (SWE).

Results

Twenty-six subjects were included in the study, mean age 44.1 ± 4.8 years, 69.2% males. One year following SG, body mass index decreased significantly from 41.7 ± 4.8 kg/m^2^ to 29.6 ± 4.5 kg/m^2^. Concomitantly, significant improvements in triglycerides, ALT, diabetes markers and adiponectin were observed. Mean steatosis, as measured by SteatoTest™, was significantly improved. Steatohepatitis score measured by NashTest™ and OWLiver® significantly decreased. Mean fibrosis, as measured by SWE liver stiffness and FibroTest™, did not change over time.

Conclusion

Steatosis and steatohepatitis are significantly improved by SG as measured by non-invasive measures.

Keywords — author-chosen Bariatric surgery, Non-invasive tests, Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, Nonalcoholic-steatohepatitis, Steatosis

MeSH — NLM indexing Adult Aged Bariatric Surgery Elasticity Imaging Techniques Feasibility Studies Female Humans Liver / diagnostic imaging Liver Cirrhosis / blood Liver Cirrhosis / diagnosis Liver Cirrhosis / etiology Liver Cirrhosis / surgery Liver Function Tests Male Middle Aged Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / blood Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / diagnosis Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / etiology Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / surgery Obesity, Morbid / complications Obesity, Morbid / surgery Prospective Studies Severity of Illness Index Treatment Outcome Weight Loss Young Adult