Liver Health Improves after Bariatric Surgery

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 24 /Xpress Press/ -- Does bariatric surgery reverse the damaging effects on the liver caused by an excess of fat? The results of this study conducted at the University of Texas Medical Branch demonstrate the effects are reversed. This was not the case earlier in the history of this surgery according to the principal investigator on this study Dr. Raj Mummadi, "The overall liver health deteriorated of some patients who underwent the surgery in the past." Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is common in people who are obese and can progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is inflammation of the liver and often results in the need for a liver transplantation.

"Multiple studies and extensive data are available on the outcomes of other complications of obesity like diabetes and heart disease after weight loss surgery but clear-cut data is lacking on the outcome of a deadly complication like NASH," says Dr. Mummadi. "So we decided to do this meta- analysis.

The research team conducted a meta-analysis of an electronic database to compare the histological features of 628 patients with NAFLD before and after having bariatric surgery. They report that 88 percent of those patients demonstrated improvement and or resolution of fatty liver after weight loss surgery.

Of those 762 patients, 568 had NASH, and 80.28 percent of those had an improvement in and 52.1 percent had complete resolution of steatosis. The inflammation progressed in n only 2.9 percent of patients after bariatric surgery.

Fibrosis, or scarring of the liver, was measured through biopsies which were performed on patients between 8 and 41 months after bariatric surgery. Biopsies from those patients showed that 41.79 percent improved, 25.37 percent remained the same, and 16.41 percent worsened.

The authors concluded that liver health improves due to the resolution of inflammation and there is a very low risk of further damage to the liver caused by fibrosis progression. "We feel we have laid to rest any concerns of liver health deteriorating after bariatric surgery as so few patients experienced this while the majority experienced improvement or no change in regard to the health of their livers."

Abstract title:

Effect of bariatric surgery on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): A meta-analysis

AASLD is the leading medical organization for advancing the science and practice of hepatology. Founded by physicians in 1950, AASLD's vision is to prevent and cure liver diseases. This year's Liver Meeting, held in Boston, Massachusetts November 2-6, will bring together almost 5,000 researchers from 55 countries.

A pressroom will be available from November 3 at the annual meeting. For copies of abstracts and press releases, or to arrange for pre-conference research interviews contact Gregory Bologna at 703-299-9766. To pre-register, call Ann Tracy at 703-299-9766.

Press releases and all abstracts are available online at http://www.aasld.org/.

Source: AASLD

CONTACT: Media, Gregory Bologna, +1-703-299-9766, gbologna(AT)aasld.org, Press Room, November 3-6, 2007, +1-617-954-2581, Researcher contact, R.R. Mummadi, MD, +1-409-392-7021, rrmummad(AT)utmb.edu, all of AASLD

Web site: http://www.aasld.org/

All materials published on this Web Site are provided "as is" without warranty or conditions of any kind, either expressed or implied. Xpress Press shall not be liable to any person or entity under any circumstances for any special, incidental, indirect or consequential damages, including, without limitation, damages resulting from use of or reliance on the information presented, loss of profits or revenues or costs of replacement goods, even if informed in advance of the possibility of such damages. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties so the above exclusions may not apply to you.

U.S. State Newswires
Africa Newswire
Asia Newswire
Australia Newswire
Canada Newswire
Europe Newswire
Latin/South America Wire

News By Subject

Accounting
Ad/Marketing
Aerospace/Airlines
Agriculture
Art
Automotive
Banking &Finance
Biotechnology
Books &Publishing
Building/Construction
Business
Career &Workplace
Computer &Internet
Computer Electronics
Computer Hardware
Computer Networks
Computer Software
Consumer &Product
Economy/Trends
Education
Entertainment
Environment
Family &Parenting
Fashion/Apparel
Features
Food &Hospitality
Health Care
Hispanic Newsline
HOLIDAY (Seasonal)
Home &Garden
Insurance
Investor News
Legal
Manufacturing
Media News/Press Advisories
New Products/Services
Not for Profit
Personal Finance
Politics &Public Affairs
Real Estate
Religion
Retail
Sciences
Small Business
Software Wire
Sports
Supplementary Medicine
Telecommunications
Travel
Utilities/Energy
Weird News
Women

Recent News
Subscribers

ABC News, CBS Marketwatch, E! Entertainment Television, CNBC's Squawk Box, Fast Company Magazine, Family News service, Fox Market Wire, Life Magazine, PC Gaming, The Wall Street Journal Europe, Digital Business, Infhotel Press, Internet Marketing in Japan, and Woman's Day.