Bariatric and metabolic endoscopy in the handling of fatty liver disease. A new emerging approach?

Abstract

non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most frequent cause of chronic hepatopathy in our environment. However, the benefits of the bariatric endoscopy in this disease are barely documented. to evaluate changes in NAFLD, via non-invasive methods in obese patients who underwent bariatric restrictive endoscopy. Weight, metabolic changes and the level of technical safety were also analyzed as secondary objectives. thirty patients with NAFLD and obesity (mean BMI 38.22 ± 6.55 kg/m2) underwent bariatric restrictive endoscopy; this included 15 one-year intragastric balloons and 15 sutured gastroplasties (ESG-Apollo®). A non-invasive prospective analysis was performed via analytical (hepatic function, insulin-resistance and hepatic steatosis/fibrosis scores) and ultrasonographic parameters. In addition, anthropometric features and the evolution of the main obesity-related comorbidities were evaluated. The follow-up period was one year in all cases. thirty patients were included; 63% were female with a mean age of 46 ± 13.8 years. There was a decrease in FLI, HSI, NAFLD-Fibrosis Score, hepatic ultrasonographic steatosis, subcutaneous fat (p < 0.001), HOMA-IR, insulin and triglycerides (p < 0.05) after 12 months. An average EWL of 44.02% (16.34% TBWL) was obtained after one year, with EWL > 25% in 27/30 patients (TBWL > 10% in 25/30 patients) (p < 0.001). Obesity-related comorbidities were resolved in 17/30 (57%) of cases, 5/8 (62.5%) HTA, 5/12 (41.7%) DLP, 2/4 (50%) T2DM, 2/3 (66.7%) SOAS and 3/3 (100%) arthropathy. An improvement in HbA1c in the ESG-Apollo group (p = 0.017) was the only difference. One migrated and spontaneously expelled balloon was the only technical incidence. bariatric endoscopy could be proposed during short-term follow-up as an effective and safe alternative in patients with obesity and NAFLD. It stimulates weight loss and improves analytical and ultrasound parameters from hepatic fat, insulin-resistance and hypertriglyceridemia. It also improves associated major comorbidities.