Secondary kwashiorkor: a rare complication of gastric bypass surgery

Kwashiorkor after gastric bypass

Gastric bypass has grown in popularity in recent years due to its high efficacy in achieving long-term weight loss in patients with morbid obesity. Gastric bypass has been described to further exacerbate baseline nutritional deficiencies due to reduced gastric capacity and malabsorption. In rare cases, when protein deficiency is severe, Kwashiorkor disease may arise. The incidence of Kwashiorkor specifically following gastric bypass is rare, with an incidence of 4.7%. We report a case of a female patient who underwent a gastric bypass and subsequently developed Kwashiorkor. Physicians' suspicion of index for Kwashiorkor should be high for patients presenting with signs or symptoms of severe malnutrition following weight-loss procedures.

Nutritional Deficiencies Before and After Bariatric Surgery: Prevention and Treatment

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Bariatric surgery has the unique ability to drive substantial and sustainable weight loss in people living with obesity. Non-reversibility of these surgical techniques provides lifelong benefits but entails the need for continuous medical follow-up. The purpose of the current paper is to review and summarize current data on nutritional deficiencies in patients before and after bariatric surgery.

RECENT FINDINGS

The cornerstone of preventing the emergence of disorders related to nutritional deficiencies is preoperative screening and correct supplementation since they may be exacerbated postoperatively. Following guidelines in conjunction to a lifelong personalized medical approach is of high importance. Bariatric surgery is a well-studied successful and durable means of weight loss that may lead to nutritional deficiencies. There is, thus, a medical need for careful monitoring and treatment of micro- and macronutrient deficiencies by an experienced multidisciplinary team.

Liver disease in obesity and underweight: the two sides of the coin. A narrative review

PURPOSE

Malnutrition, whether characterized by not enough or too much nutrient intake, is detrimental to the liver. We herein provide a narrative literature revision relative to hepatic disease occurrence in over or undernourished subjects, to shed light on the paradox where both sides of malnutrition lead to similar liver dysfunction and fat accumulation.

METHODS

Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched for publications up to July 2020. Articles discussing the association between both chronic and acute liver pathology and malnutrition were evaluated together with studies reporting the dietary intake in subjects affected by malnutrition.

RESULTS

The association between overnutrition and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is well recognized, as the beneficial effects of calorie restriction and very low carbohydrate diets. Conversely, the link between undernutrition and liver injury is more complex and less understood. In developing countries, early exposure to nutrient deficiency leads to marasmus and kwashiorkor, accompanied by fatty liver, whereas in developed countries anorexia nervosa is a more common form of undernutrition, associated with liver injury. Weight gain in undernutrition is associated with liver function improvement, whereas no study on the impact of macronutrient distribution is available. We hypothesized a role for very low carbohydrate diets in the management of undernutrition derived liver pathology, in addition to the established one in overnutrition-related NAFLD.

CONCLUSIONS

Further studies are warranted to update the knowledge regarding undernutrition-related liver disease, and a specific interest should be paid to macronutrient distribution both in the context of refeeding and relative to its role in the development of hepatic complications of anorexia nervosa.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Narrative review, Level V.

Severe Protein-Calorie Malnutrition-Associated Hepatic Steatosis in a Woman Who Had Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass for Morbid Obesity Thirteen Years Ago

Hepatic steatosis is common in everyday liver pathology practice. There are many etiologies leading to hepatic steatosis. These etiologies include metabolic syndrome, alcohol, medications, monogenetic disease, infectious diseases, and malnutrition. Correct diagnosis of underlying etiology through clinicopathological correlation is key to adequate treatment and optimal outcome for the patient. In this case report, we describe severe protein-calorie malnutrition as an etiology for hepatic steatosis in a middle-aged woman who presented with lethargy, low body mass index (15.8 kg/m²), abdominal distention and bilateral lower extremity edema, hyperammonemia, and hypoalbuminemia, 13 years after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity. Laboratory tests revealed hyperammonemia, hypoalbuminemia, and low ceruloplasmin levels. Hemodynamic measurement demonstrated high hepatic venous pressure gradient of 12 mm Hg. Transjugular liver biopsy showed moderate macrovesicular steatosis, mild siderosis, and abundant lipofuscin but no evidence of fibrosis, cirrhosis, or steatohepatitis. This patient was treated with lactulose and enteral feeding, however, the patient died of progressive liver failure 3 weeks after admission. We also review relevant literature to help diagnose protein-calorie malnutrition (kwashiorkor) and hepatic steatosis as a possible late complication of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. In patients with hepatic steatosis, encephalopathy, hyperammonemia and portal hypertension, malnutrition should be considered as an etiology and diagnosed with a synthesis of clinical, pathological, and laboratory information. Kwashiorkor is a severe disease and should be treated promptly as it may be fatal as in our case.

Cutaneous sequelae of a national health crisis: Obesity and the skin

Background

The global obesity pandemic has far‐reaching health consequences and has become a major global health challenge. The worldwide prevalence of obesity nearly doubled between 1980 and 2008 and based on the latest estimates in the European Union, obesity affects up to 30% of adults. As a consequence of this rising prevalence of obesity, there has been an increase in the frequency of certain disease of the skin.

Objectives

We review the cutaneous sequelae of obesity, firstly describing the physiological consequences of increased adiposity in the skin and secondly examining the dermatoses associated with obesity.

Secondary Kwashiorkor Disease in a Patient with Gastric Bypass Surgery and Short Gut Syndrome

BACKGROUND Kwashiorkor disease is a subtype of severe acute protein malnutrition characterized by peripheral edema associated with hypoalbuminemia and ascites. It can result from both protein deficiency and protein loss. In resource-poor countries, the disease often is caused by inadequate dietary intake, but in resource-rich countries, it can be seen as a rare complication of severe malabsorption. CASE REPORT We present the case of a 60-year-old woman who presented with 1 week of progressive anasarca in the setting of decreased dietary intake and poor tolerance of total parenteral nutrition (TPN). She had a history of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery which was complicated by a strangulated internal hernia that required an exploratory laparotomy and small bowel resection. She subsequently developed short gut syndrome with TPN dependence. Work-up revealed hypoalbuminemia with several micronutrient deficiencies consistent with secondary kwashiorkor disease. With a multidisciplinary approach that included Gastroenterology, Pharmacy, and Nutrition, she was treated with albumin, furosemide, nutritional supplementation, and ultimately rechallenged with TPN. At discharge, her swelling had improved, her weight had decreased, and her albumin improved to the normal range. CONCLUSIONS This case is a unique presentation of secondary kwashiorkor disease. In our patient, the combination of gastric bypass surgery and short gut syndrome with poor TPN tolerance likely led to severe protein malabsorption. This underscores the importance of recognizing the signs and symptoms of kwashiorkor disease and understanding the associated complications so that treatment can be instituted promptly. Furthermore, the case demonstrates how an interdisciplinary approach to management can increase the chance of a successful outcome.