Bariatric surgery may improve renal function

Severely obese patients may experience improved renal function following bariatric surgery, according to data presented recently at the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery Annual Meeting in San Diego.

In a retrospective study, researchers evaluated 233 patients who underwent bariatric surgery at Min-Sheng General Hospital in Taoyuan, Taiwan, to treat severe obesity. The patients also received more than 12 months of follow-up. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was measured in each patient at baseline, and subgroups were formed according to the results: Hyperfiltration (n=61, GFR>125 mL/min), normal (n= 127, GFR=125-99 mL/min) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 2 (n=39, GFR=89-60 mL/min) and stage 3 (n=6, GFR=59-30 mL/min). GFR was measured again 12 months postsurgery.

Mean GFR decreased in the hyperfiltration (146.4 mL/min to 133.0 mL/min) group and increased in all other groups: From 105.7 mL/min to 114.2 mL/min in the normal group; from 81.0 mL/min to 98.6 mL/min in the stage 2 CKD group, and from 49.3 mL/min to 66.8 mL/min in the stage 3 CKD group.

“Renal function abnormality was commonly seen in severely obese patients,” the researchers concluded. “Weight loss associated with bariatric surgery could potentially have a positive effect on renal function at one year after surgery.”

For more information:

Lee W. #PL-108: Improved Renal Function 12 Months After Bariatric Surgery. Presented at: the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery Annual Meeting; June 17-22, San Diego.