Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass as a Treatment for Hepatic Iron Overload: An Exploratory Study.

BACKGROUND

Excess bodily iron content is commonly associated with obesity and metabolic associated medical conditions and is thought to lead to cardiovascular disease. The effect of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) on hepatic iron overload remains to be determined.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the evolution of histologically proven hepatic iron overload after RYGB.

METHODS

This is an exploratory historical cohort study in which 42 individuals who underwent RYGB, and then a second surgical procedure had paired liver biopsies collected. Hepatic iron overload and NAFLD features were assessed through histopathological examination. Biochemical iron metabolism parameters were also assessed.

RESULTS

The mean age at RYGB was 47 ± 10.2 years and 92.9% were female. The average time elapsed between RYGB and the second surgical procedure was 20.6 ± 15.4 months. The mean percentage of total weight loss between the two procedures was 26.7 ± 9.4%. Significant reductions in ferritin (220.8 ± 202.9 vs. 101.6 ± 116.7 ng/mL; p = 0.006), hemoglobin (13.7 ± 1.8 vs. 12.1 ± 2.6 g/dL; p = 0.01), and red blood cell count (4.7 ± 0.7 vs. 4.3 ± 0.5 10/mm; p = 0.003) were observed, as well as reductions in the frequencies of steatosis (83.3% vs. 23.8%; p < 0.0001) and steatohepatitis (52.4% vs. 11.9%; p < 0.0001). The frequency of hepatic iron overload significantly decreased from 16.7 to 2.4% (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

RYGB led to a significant decrease in hepatic iron overload, emerging as a possible therapeutical tool for this condition in individuals with obesity and dysmetabolic iron overload syndrome.