Bariatric surgery, used for its ability to help obese patients lose weight, may also lead to significant improvement in non-alcoholic liver disease (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), according to the results of a study unveiled at the Digestive Disease Week.
Researchers at the University of South Florida compared liver biopsies from 152 obese patients at the time of the bariatric procedure and a second time 29 months later.
By examining preoperative biopsies, researchers identified patients with cellular-level manifestations of non-alcoholic liver disease, in particular, fatty deposits and inflammation of the liver. These types of damage can lead to fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver, which can be fatal.
They found that bariatric surgery reduced liver inflammation and reversed liver fibrosis at an early stage. It also promoted the thickening and healing of liver tissue by reducing fatty deposits in this organ.
Effective bariatric surgery to treat non-alcoholic liverworts
After examining postoperative biopsies, they found that bariatric surgery resulted in improvements for these patients. In post-operative biopsies, researchers noticed that fatty deposits on the liver decreased for 70% of patients. Inflammation was also reduced for 74% of them, and steatohepatitis (liver fat overload) resolved in 88%.
“We are in the midst of an epidemic of obesity which may further lead to an epidemic of non-alcoholic liver disease,” said study principal investigator Dr. Murr, a professor of surgery. While bariatric surgery is a tool in the fight against obesity, it could also help treat generalized liver disease. »
“Our results suggest that healthcare professionals should consider bariatric surgery as the treatment of choice for nonalcoholic hepatics in patients with severe obesity. »
