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Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Morbidly Obese Patients

Conditions
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
Interventions
Procedure: Bariatric surgery
Registration Number
NCT04059029
Lead Sponsor
Taipei Medical University Hospital
Brief Summary

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of abnormal liver biochemistry tests in the world. The prevalence rate of NAFLD has been reported to be 30-40% in men and 15-20% in women, up to 70% of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (Type 2 DM) and even surpassing 74% to 90% of morbidly obese patients with body mass index (BMI) higher than 35 kg/m\^2. The primary aims of this prospective cohort study would evaluate the predictive factors of successful weight reduction, NAFLD and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) improvement in a large cohort of morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Secondarily, the diagnostic accuracy of noninvasive serum markers, doppler ultrasonography and transient elastography would be validated. Thirdly, we would conduct gene expression analyses to elucidate biological pathways underlying NAFLD phenotypes in this unique cohort.

Detailed Description

This prospective study have been approved by Taipei Medical University-Joint Institutional Review Board. The starting point for each patient is the day of surgery and the end-point is 1 year after the operation. During bariatric surgery, all patients would undergo a liver biopsy under laparoscopic guidance. The diagnosis of NASH and liver fibrosis would be made histologically. For histological examinations, liver tissue specimens would be fixed in 10 % formalin, embedded in paraffin, and then stained with hematoxylin and eosin. A detailed history wound be obtained including history of alcohol use, type 2 DM, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia. Written informed consents would be obtained from all patients who would agree to undergo surgery. A histologic assessment would be planned approximately 1 year after bariatric surgery, if patient would agree.

In this study, excess weight loss (EWL) is defined as the excess weight over the ideal body weight calculated according to the Metropolitan Life Weight Tables. The weight reduction success would be defined as the percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) \>50% at the point of 1 year after operation. Diagnosis and classification of type 2 DM is based on criteria established by the American Diabetes Association. The individual components of glycemic control (levels of serum glucose, HbA1c levels) body weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure would be examined. Additionally, the levels of total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglyceride, uric acid, aspartate aminotransferase (AST),alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin, insulin, C-peptide, iron, calcium, complete blood cell counts would be assessed 1 day before surgery and 12 months post-operatively. All patients would receive abdominal ultrasonography, duplex doppler ultrasonography, transient elastography (FibroScan®) before and 12 months after bariatric surgery. The diagnosis accuracy of transient elastography (FibroScan®) would be validated. Transient elastography (FibroScan®) appears to be a non-invasive, reproducible, and reliable method for predicting liver fibrosis, in patients with hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, NAFLD and alcoholic liver disease.

Patients body weight would be measured in light clothing without shoes to the nearest 0.1 kg, and body height would be measured to the nearest 0.1 cm. BMI is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Waist circumference would be measured midway between the lateral lower rib margin and the superior anterior iliac crest.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
200
Inclusion Criteria
  • Adult male and female Morbidly obese patients age 20-65 years with BMI over 37.5 kg/m^2, or BMI over 32.5 kg/m^2 with comorbidity other than diabetes (hypertension, NASH, dyslipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea, osteoarthritis joint...etc.) or BMI over 27.5 kg/m^2 with poor control diabetes undergoing bariatric surgery
Exclusion Criteria
  • The presence of end organ damage
  • Previous bariatric surgery
  • Women who are pregnant or nursing
  • Prolonged exposure to known hepatotoxins such as alcohol or drugs
  • Concurrent hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, hepatitis D virus, or human immunodeficiency virus infection
  • Concurrent autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis
  • Wilson disease or hemochromatosis

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Morbidly obese patients with NAFLDBariatric surgeryMorbidly obese patient with Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The starting point for each patient is the day of surgery and the end-point is 1 year after the operation. During bariatric surgery, all patients would undergo a wedge liver biopsy under laparoscopic guidance. The diagnosis of NASH would be made histologically.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from body mass index (BMI) at 12 months after surgerypre-surgery and 12 months after surgery

The BMI would be calculated by dividing the body weight (in kilograms) by the square body height (in meters).

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from alanine aminotransferase at 12 months after surgerypre-surgery and 12 months after surgery

Liver function test

Change from aspartate aminotransferase at 12 months after surgerypre-surgery and 12 months after surgery

Liver function test

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis1 day of surgery

The diagnosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) would be made histologically. A score for steatosis, activity and fibrosis would be given to each patient for the diagnosis of NASH as in Bedossa's study. (Reference: Hepatology. 2012 Nov;56(5):1751-9.)

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