Platelet Counts and Liver Enzymes After Gastric Bypass Surgery

Background

Obesity is associated with chronic inflammation, liver steatosis and increased liver enzymes such as gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), markers for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver fat content. Increased platelet counts (PCs) are a biomarker reflecting inflammation and the degree of fibrosis in NAFLD. We investigated alterations in PCs, GGT, ALT, C-reactive protein (CRP) and ferritin after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP).

Methods

One hundred twenty-four morbidly obese non-diabetic patients were evaluated before (baseline) and 12 months after (follow-up) RYGBP.

Results

Body mass index (BMI) was reduced from 43.5 kg/m² (baseline) to 31.1 kg/m² (follow-up), and p?9 to 260?×?10⁹/l, p?p?p?=?0.006. CRP was lowered from 7.3 to 5.4 mg/l p?p?r?=?0.38, p?=?0.001), BMI (r?=?0.25, p?=?0.012), weight (r?=?0.24, p?=?0.015) and inversely correlated with ferritin (r?=?21, p?=?0.036).

Conclusions

PCs, GGT and ALT (markers for NAFLD), and CRP and ferritin (markers for inflammation) decreased in morbidly obese after RYGBP. The decrease in PCs correlated with alterations in CRP, BMI, weight and ferritin. The lowering of liver enzymes may reflect a lowered liver fat content and decreased general inflammation.