Effect of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy on platelet count and mean platelet volume

OBJECTIVE: Several studies have reported an increase in platelet (PLT) count with chronic inflammation in the presence of obesity. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is an important marker for PLT activity. Our study aims to demonstrate if laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has any effect on PLT, MPV and white blood cells (WBCs). METHODS: A total of 202 patients undergoing LSG for morbid obesity between January 2019 and March 2020 who completed at least 1 year of follow-up were included in the study. Patients’ characteristics and laboratory parameters were recorded preoperatively and were compared in the 6(th) and 12(th) months. RESULTS: Two hundred and two patients (50% – female) with a mean age of 37.5 ± 12.2 years and mean pre-operative body mass index (BMI) of 43 (34.1–62.5) kg/m(2) underwent LSG. BMI regressed to 28.2 ± 4.5 kg/m(2) at 1 year after LSG (P < 0.001). The mean PLT count, MPV and WBC during the pre-operative period were 293.2 ± 70.3 10(3) cells/μL, 10.22 ± 0.9 fL and 7.8 ± 1.9 10(3) cells/μL, respectively. A significant decrease was seen in mean PLT count, with 257.3 ± 54.2 10(3) cell/μL (P < 0.001) at 1 year post-LSG. The mean MPV was increased at 6 months 10.5 ± 1.2 fL (P < 0.001) and remained unchanged at 1 year 10.3 ± 1.3 fL (P = 0.9). The mean WBC levels were significantly decreased with 6.5 ± 1.7 10(3) cells/μL (P < 0.001) at 1 year. At the end of the follow-up, weight loss showed no correlation with PLT and MPV (P = 0.42, P = 0.32). CONCLUSION: Our study has shown a significant decrease in circulating PLT and WBC levels while MPV remained unchanged after LSG.