Short-term outcome of bariatric surgery on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a Korean perspective

PURPOSE: Obesity is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease. We aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of bariatric surgery for hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in Korean patients. METHODS: A total of 32 consecutive patients were enrolled in this study. Hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis were assessed before surgery and 6 months after surgery using transient elastography and serologic panels. RESULTS: Thirteen patients (40.6%) were male and 19 (59.4%) were female, with a mean age of 39.3 ± 11.3 years. The body mass index was significant at the 6th month: 39.1 ± 6.7 and 30.3 ± 4.7 kg/m(2) (P < 0.001), respectively. The mean preoperative controlled attenuation parameter and liver stiffness measurement values were 325.4 ± 55.9 dB/m and 7.4 ± 4.8 kPa, respectively, before surgery, and they decreased to 267.1 ± 45.1 dB/m and 5.3 ± 2.3 kPa, respectively, 6 months postoperatively (P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that bariatric surgery is associated with a significant improvement in liver steatosis and fibrosis. Bariatric surgery has a beneficial effect on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with morbid obesity in Korea.