Platelet Counts and Liver Enzymes After Gastric Bypass Surgery

Abstract

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 < 0.001 and weight declined from 126.2 to 89.0 kg. PCs decreased from 303 × 109 to 260 × 109/l, p < 0.001. GGT was reduced from 0.63 to 0.38 μkat/l, p < 0.001. ALT decreased from 0.69 to 0.59 μkat/l, p = 0.006. CRP was lowered from 7.3 to 5.4 mg/l p < 0.001 and ferritin from 106 to 84 μg/l p < 0.001. The alterations in PCs correlated with the changes in CRP (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.