The Value of Liquid and Solid Mixed Meal Tolerance Tests in Diagnosis of Postprandial Reactive Hypoglycaemic Syndrome After Gastric Bypass Surgery.

BACKGROUND

Precise diagnostics for postprandial reactive hypoglycaemic syndrome (PRHS) after gastric bypass surgery (GBS) are lacking. Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) are advocated but might cause early dumping and lack specificity. This study aims to evaluate glucometabolic responses and symptoms during liquid and solid mixed meal tolerance tests (LMMTT and SMMTT).

METHODS

Twenty-two subjects at least 1 year after GBS, divided into PRHS and non-PRHS based on clinical assessment and 14 control subjects (6 normal-weight, 8 with obesity) participated. All underwent 3-h LMMTT and SMMTT during which glucometabolic responses as well as hypoglycaemic symptoms using the Edinburgh hypoglycaemia symptom scale (EHSS) were assessed.

RESULTS

During LMMTT, nadir glucose levels nor frequency of levels < 70 mg/dl and < 54 mg/dl did differ between groups. LMMTT could not differentiate between PRHS and non-PRHS in terms of total count of symptoms, and the number of symptoms was not associated with low glycaemia. During SMMTT, glucometabolic responses were similar between PRHS and non-PRHS. However, significantly more hypoglycaemic symptoms were evocated in the group with PRHS compared to those without during the second phase of SMMTT, with more neuroglycopenic and malaise symptoms in the subjects with PRHS. The decrease rate of glucose was higher in subjects with PRHS with malaise symptoms from 105 to 180 min compared to those without malaise.

CONCLUSION

LMMTT is not able to differentiate hypoglycaemic symptoms and low glycaemic values between subjects with PRHS and subjects without PRHS, whereas SMMTT could be of greater value. The clinical value of set glucose levels and the use of other biochemical parameters used to diagnose PRHS needs to be further evaluated.