Christine Poitou, Lia Puder, Beatrice Dubern, Philipp Krabusch, Laurent Genser, Susanna Wiegand, Hélène Verkindt, Arvid Köhn, Reiner Jumpertz von Schwartzenberg, Christa Flück, François Pattou, Martine Laville, Peter Kühnen, Karine Clément
Journal: Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery 2021;17(8):1449-1456
PMID: 34083135
BACKGROUND
Gene mutations in the leptin-melanocortin signaling cascade lead to hyperphagia and severe early onset obesity. In most cases, multimodal conservative treatment (increased physical activity, reduced caloric intake) is not successful to stabilize body weight and control hyperphagia.
OBJECTIVES
To examine bariatric surgery as a therapeutic option for patients with genetic obesity.
SETTING
Three major academic, specialized medical centers.
METHODS
In 3 clinical centers, we retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of bariatric surgery performed in 8 patients with monogenic forms of obesity with bi-allelic variants in the genes LEPR (n = 5), POMC (n = 2), and MC4R (n = 1).
RESULTS
In this group of patients with monogenic obesity, initial bariatric surgery was performed at a median age of 19 years (interquartile range [IQR], 16-23.8 yr). All patients initially experienced weight loss after each bariatric surgery, which was followed by substantial weight regain. In total, bariatric surgery led to a median maximum reduction of body weight of -21.5 kg (IQR, -36.3 to -2.9 kg), median percent excess weight loss (%EWL) of -47.5 %EWL (IQR, -57.6 to -28.9 %EWL). This body weight reduction was followed by median weight regain of 24.1 kg (IQR: 10.0 to 42.0 kg), leading to a final weight change of -24.2 % EWL (IQR: -37.6 to -5.4 %EWL) after a maximum duration of 19 years post surgery. In one patient, bariatric surgery was accompanied by significant complications, including vitamin deficiencies and hernia development.
CONCLUSION
The indication for bariatric surgery in patients with monogenic obesity based on bi-allelic gene mutations and its benefit/risk balance has to be evaluated very cautiously by specialized centers. Furthermore, to avoid an unsuccessful operation, preoperative genetic testing of patients with a history of early onset obesity might be essential, even more since novel pharmacological treatment options are expected.
Copyright © 2021 American Society for Bariatric Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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