Crohn's disease after gastric bypass surgery for morbid obesity: is there an association?

Recommendations on the management of severe obesity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease of the Spanish Group on Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (GETECCU), Spanish Society of Obesity (SEEDO), Spanish Association of Surgery (AEC) and Spanish Society of Digestive Endoscopy (SEED)

Obesity is a multifactorial, chronic, progressive and recurrent disease considered a public health issue worldwide and an important determinant of disability and death. In Spain, its current prevalence in the adult population is about 24% and an estimated prevalence in 2035 of 37%. Obesity increases the probability of several diseases linked to higher mortality such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemia, arterial hypertension, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, several types of cancer, or obstructive sleep apnea. On the other hand, although the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is stabilizing in Western countries, its prevalence already exceeds 0.3%. Paralleling to general population, the current prevalence of obesity in adult patients with IBD is estimated at 15-40%. Obesity in patients with IBD could entail, in addition to its already known impact on disability and mortality, a worse evolution of the IBD itself and a worse response to treatments. The aim of this document, performed in collaboration by four scientific societies involved in the clinical care of severe obesity and IBD, is to establish clear and concise recommendations on the therapeutic possibilities of severe or typeIII obesity in patients with IBD. The document establishes general recommendations on dietary, pharmacological, endoscopic, and surgical treatment of severe obesity in patients with IBD, as well as pre- and post-treatment evaluation.

The impact of bariatric surgery on admissions for gastrointestinal complications and conditions associated with obesity: A nationwide study

BACKGROUND

Obesity worsens various gastrointestinal pathologies. While bariatric surgery ameliorates obesity, it substantially modifies the gastrointestinal system depending on surgery type, with limited data on subsequent impact on obesity-related gastrointestinal admissions.

METHODS

Using the 2012-2014 Nationwide Readmission Database, we included individuals with obesity who received vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), or hernia repair (HR-control surgery). Our main focus was the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for gastrointestinal inpatient admissions within 6 months following surgery compared to the 6 months preceding it, while controlling for several confounding factors. Gastrointestinal admissions were grouped into postoperative complications or obesity-associated gastrointestinal conditions.

RESULTS

Our cohort included 140,103 adults with RYGB, 132,253 with VSG, and 12,436 HR controls. Postoperative gastrointestinal complications were most common after RYGB, prominently obstruction (aOR = 33.17, 95%CI: 18.01, 61.10), and Clostridium difficile infection (aOR: 12.52, 95%CI: 6.22, 25.19). VSG also saw significantly increased but less frequent similar conditions. Notably, for gastrointestinal conditions associated with obesity, acute pancreatitis risk was higher post-VSG (aOR = 6.26, 95%CI: 4.02, 9.73). Post-RYGB patients were most likely to be admitted for cholelithiasis with cholecystitis (aOR: 4.15, 95% CI: 3.24, 5.31), followed by chronic liver disease (aOR: 3.00, 95% CI: 2.33, 3.87). The risk of noninfectious colitis admissions was threefold higher after RYGB and VSG. No gastrointestinal conditions showed an increase after HR.

CONCLUSION

Despite weight loss, bariatric surgery was associated with an increased risk of hepato-pancreatobiliary and colitis admissions related to obesity in the first six postoperative months, with considerable variations in rates of gastrointestinal conditions by surgery type.

Systematic review: Outcomes of bariatric surgery in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and de-novo IBD development after bariatric surgery

A large proportion of patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease are obese. Outcomes of bariatric surgery in patients with IBD and on IBD disease course itself is not clear. Furthermore, there is some evidence that bariatric surgery can precipitate the development of de-novo IBD. Thus, the aim of this systematic review was to summarise the evidence from the literature surrounding these questions. A comprehensive literature review was conducted based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis guidelines (PRISMA). PUBMED, and MEDLINE databases was searched using a combination of keywords and MeSH terms including "gastric bypass", "sleeve gastrectomy", "Roux-en-Y", "Duodenal switch", "RYGB", "bariatric surgery" and "inflammatory bowel disease", "Crohn's disease" ,"Ulcerative colitis". Studies published up to March 2020 were included in this analysis. 22 studies met the inclusion criteria. Studies revealed that bariatric surgery is safe and effective for patients with IBD and resulted in significant weight loss at both the 6-month and 12-month time points. Furthermore, multiple studies reported de-novo IBD development following bariatric surgery in a selection of patients.

De Novo Inflammatory Bowel Disease Following Bariatric Surgery: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

The incidence of both obesity and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is rising globally. The influence of bariatric metabolic surgery (BMS) upon IBD development is largely unknown. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the relationship between BMS and the risk of de novo IBD development following surgery. A systematic literature search and meta-analysis were performed using PubMed and Scopus databases. Inclusion criteria were any study reporting risk of de novo IBD development following BMS relative to an appropriate control cohort. Pooled odds ratios (POR) were calculated. A total of 31 articles were identified by the literature search. Four studies including 149,385 patients met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled estimation of a meta-analysis of risk ratios studies demonstrated a POR for the development of IBD following BMS of 1.17 (95% CI, 1.06-1.29). This indicates a 17% increase in relative risk of de novo IBD development for those patients receiving BMS compared to those treated by non-surgical methods. Based on the present data, there appears to be an association between BMS and risk of de novo IBD. Compared to the proven benefits of BMS on other aspects of patient health, this potential risk remains proportionally low but may be an important consideration for patients both pre- and post-operatively.

Exploring the Relationship Between Bariatric Surgery and Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review

Background

Obesity affects over 40% of Americans. Bariatric surgery is an increasingly popular and well-studied method to achieve weight loss, improve metabolic homeostasis, and resolve obesity-related comorbid conditions. While the impact of bariatric surgery on weight loss and metabolic health has been extensively studied, there is an increasing body of literature characterizing the impact of bariatric surgery on gastrointestinal health and inflammation. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) leads to inflammation in both the small and large intestine, and leads to significant patient morbidity. Similar to obesity, the incidence of IBD is also rising. Patients with IBD and obesity may seek bariatric surgery. The impact of bariatric surgery on IBD is not well understood, but critical to understand for optimal patient care. Herein, we review the currently available literature on the impact of bariatric surgery on IBD including common trends, discrepancies in findings, and remaining knowledge gaps in need of further study.

Methods

A systematic review of the PubMed/MEDLINE database using PRISMA guidelines was performed.

Results

We identified 12 manuscripts discussing de novo IBD after bariatric surgery and 16 studying bariatric surgery in patients with pre-existing IBD. Overall, bariatric surgery appears to be safe in patients with pre-existing IBD but may increase the risk of developing de novo IBD.

Conclusions

Further research into optimal surgical approaches, patient selection, and mechanisms on how bariatric surgery impacts IBD is needed.

The risk of inflammatory bowel disease after bariatric surgery

BACKGROUND

The association between bariatric surgery and new onset of inflammatory bowel disease has so far only been sparsely studied and with conflicting results.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the association between bariatric surgery and inflammatory bowel disease in a large population-based cohort.

SETTING

Nationwide in Sweden.

METHODS

This population-based retrospective cohort study included Swedish individuals registered in the Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Registry who underwent primary Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy during 2007-2018. Ten control individuals from the general population were matched according to age, sex, and region of residence at time of exposure. The study population was followed until 2019 with regard to the development of inflammatory bowel disease. Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare disease-free survival time between subgroups and control individuals for each outcome.

RESULTS

The final cohort consisted of 64,188 exposed individuals with a total follow-up of 346,860 person-years and 634,530 controls with total follow-up of 3,444,186 person-years. Individuals who underwent Roux-en-Y-gastric bypass had an increased risk of later development of Crohn's disease (hazard ratio [HR] 1.8, 95% CI 1.5-2.2) and unclassified inflammatory bowel disease (HR 2.7, 95% CI 2.0-3.7) but not ulcerative colitis (HR .9, 95% CI .8-1.1) compared with control individuals, whereas individuals who underwent sleeve gastrectomy had an increased risk of ulcerative colitis (HR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-3.1) but not Crohn's disease (HR .8, 95% CI .3-2.1) and unclassified inflammatory bowel disease (HR 2.5, 95% CI .8-7.8).

CONCLUSIONS

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass was associated with increased risk of Crohn's disease and unclassified inflammatory bowel disease, whereas sleeve gastrectomy was associated with increased risk of ulcerative colitis only.

Leptin-resistant Zucker rats with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid colitis present a reduced inflammatory response but enhanced epithelial damage

The role of leptin in the development of intestinal inflammation remains controversial, since proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects have been described. This study describes the effect of the absence of leptin signaling in intestinal inflammation. Experimental colitis was induced by intrarectal administration of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) to lean and obese Zucker rats (n = 10). Effects on inflammation and mucosal barrier were studied. Bacterial translocation and LPS concentration were evaluated together with colonic permeability to 4-kDa FITC-dextran. Obese Zucker rats showed a lower intestinal myeloperoxidase and alkaline phosphatase activity, reduced alkaline phosphatase sensitivity to levamisole, and diminished colonic expression of Nos2, Tnf, and Il6, indicating attenuated intestinal inflammation, associated with attenuated STAT3, AKT, and ERK signaling in the colonic tissue. S100a8 and Cxcl1 mRNA levels were maintained, suggesting that in the absence of leptin signaling neutrophil activation rather than infiltration is hampered. Despite the lower inflammatory response, leptin resistance enhanced intestinal permeability, reflecting an increased epithelial damage. This was shown by augmented LPS presence in the portal vein of colitic obese Zucker rats, associated with induction of tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase, LPS-binding protein, and CD14 hepatic expression (involved in LPS handling). This was linked to decreased ZO-1 immunoreactivity in tight junctions and lower occludin expression. Our results indicate that obese Zucker rats present an attenuated inflammatory response to TNBS, but increased intestinal epithelial damage allowing the passage of bacterial antigens.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Obese Zucker rats, which are resistant to leptin, exhibit a diminished inflammatory response in the trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) model of colitis, suggesting leptin role is proinflammatory. At the same time, obese Zucker rats present a debilitated intestinal barrier function, with increased translocation of LPS. Zucker rats present a dual response in the TNBS model of rat colitis.

Bariatric Surgery and Risk of New-onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Nationwide Cohort Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The aim of this study was to examine the risk of new-onset inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] following bariatric surgery.

METHODS

We conducted a nationwide population-based prospective cohort study of the entire Danish population 18 to 60 years of age, alive, and residing in Denmark, from 1996 to 2018. Bariatric surgery was included as a time-dependent variable, and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios [HRs] of IBD. We used a model adjusting for age, sex, and birth cohort and a multifactor-adjusted model additionally including educational status and number of obesity-related comorbidities.

RESULTS

We followed 3 917 843 individuals of whom 15 347 had a bariatric surgery, for development of new-onset IBD. During 106 420 person-years following bariatric surgery, 100 IBD events occurred [incidence rate 0.940/1000 person-years]. During 55 553 785 person-years without bariatric surgery, 35 294 events of IBD occurred [incidence rate 0.635/1000 person-years]. This corresponded to a multifactor-adjusted hazard ratio [HR] of 1.15 (95% confidence interval[CI], 0.94-1.40) for IBD. Multifactor-adjusted HRs of Crohn's disease [CD] and ulcerative colitis [UC] were 1.85 [95% CI, 1.40-2.44] and 0.81 [95% CI, 0.61-1.08], respectively. Among women, the multifactor-adjusted HR for CD was 2.18 [95% CI, 1.64-2.90]. When limiting the study population to individuals with a diagnosis of overweight/obesity, bariatric surgery remained associated with increased risk of CD, multifactor-adjusted HR 1.59 [95% CI, 1.18-2.13].

CONCLUSIONS

This nationwide cohort study shows that bariatric surgery is associated with increased risk of development of new-onset CD, but not of UC. The underlying mechanisms remain elusive.

Secondary causes of inflammatory bowel diseases

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), conventionally consist of Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis. They occur in individuals with high risk genotype for the disease in the setting of appropriate environmental factors. The pathogenesis of IBD involves a dysregulated autoimmune response to gut dysbiosis, which in turn is triggered due to exposure to various inciting environmental factors. But there is no clearly defined etiology of IBD and this type of disease is termed as “idiopathic IBD”, “classic IBD”, or “primary IBD”. We reviewed the current medical literature and found that certain etiological factors may be responsible for the development of IBD or IBD-like conditions, and we consider this form of de novo IBD as “secondary IBD”. Currently known factors that are potentially responsible for giving rise to secondary IBD are medications; bowel altering surgeries and transplantation of organs, stem cells or fecal microbiome. Medications associated with the development of secondary IBD include; immunomodulators, anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha agents, anti-interleukin agents, interferons, immune stimulating agents and checkpoint inhibitors. Colectomy can in some cases give rise to de novo CD, pouchitis of the ileal pouch, or postcolectomy enteritis syndrome. After solid organ transplantation or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the recipient may develop de novo IBD or IBD flare. Fecal microbiota transplantation has been widely used to treat patients suffering from recurrent Clostridium difficile infection but can also causes IBD flares.

Bariatric Surgery and Its Complications in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

Recent data have suggested that bariatric procedures, especially laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG), are safe and effective weight loss measures in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). But most of the studies have looked at short-term outcomes, and there is a general lack of awareness of underlying disease processes and baseline comorbidities in IBD patients undergoing bariatric procedures. Postbariatric issues in IBD patients including diarrhea from dumping syndrome, choleretic diarrhea, a high prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, gastroesophageal reflux disease, Barrett's esophagus, stomal ulcerations, stenosis, and renal and gallstones can complicate the natural history of IBD. This could lead to unnecessary hospitalizations, change of medical therapy, and poor surgical and quality of life outcomes. In this review, we will discuss major complications after common bariatric procedures (SG, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and gastric banding) and suggest possible management strategies.

TGR5 Protects Against Colitis in Mice, but Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Increases Colitis Severity

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Bariatric surgery, such as vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG), is the most effective long-term treatment for obesity. However, there are conflicting reports on the effect of bariatric surgery on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Bariatric surgery increases bile acid concentrations, which can decrease inflammation by signaling through the bile acid receptor, TGR5. TGR5 signaling protects against chemically induced colitis in mice. VSG increases circulating bile acid concentrations to increase TGR5 signaling, which contributes to improved metabolic regulation after VSG. Therefore, we investigated the effect of VSG on chemically induced colitis development and the role of TGR5 in this context.

METHODS

VSG or sham surgery was performed in high fat diet-fed male Tgr5^+/+ and Tgr5^-/- littermates. Sham-operated mice were food restricted to match their body weight to VSG-operated mice. Colitis was induced with 2.5% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in water post-operatively. Body weight, energy intake, fecal scoring, colon histopathology, colonic markers of inflammation, goblet cell counts, and colonic microRNA-21 levels were assessed.

RESULTS

VSG decreased body weight independently of genotype. Consistent with previous work, genetic ablation of TGR5 increased the severity of DSS-induced colitis. Notably, despite the effect of VSG to decrease body weight and increase TGR5 signaling, VSG increased the severity of DSS-induced colitis. VSG-induced increases in colitis were associated with increased colonic expression of TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1, and microRNA-21.

CONCLUSIONS

While our data demonstrate that TGR5 protects against colitis, they also demonstrate that VSG potentiates chemically induced colitis in mice. These data suggest that individuals undergoing VSG may be at increased risk for developing colitis; however, further study is needed.

Glucose Metabolism Parameters and Post-Prandial GLP-1 and GLP-2 Release Largely Vary in Several Distinct Situations: a Controlled Comparison Among Individuals with Crohn's Disease and Individuals with Obesity Before and After Bariatric Surgery

BACKGROUND

This study aims to compare the post-prandial curves of glucose, insulin, GLP-1, and GLP-2 among individuals with Crohn's disease (CD), obese individuals before and after bariatric surgery, and healthy controls.

METHODS

This an exploratory cross-sectional study that involved five groups of patients (two groups of individuals with CD-active and inactive), bariatric patients (pre- and post-surgery, who were their own controls), and a distinct separated control group of healthy volunteers. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and the post-prandial curves of glucose, insulin, GLP-1, and GLP-2 curves were assessed and compared.

RESULTS

The pre-RYGB group presented significantly higher levels of CRP than the post-RYGB (p = 0.001) and the control group (p = 0.001). The inactive CD group presented a higher post-prandial GLP-1 area under the curve (AUC) than the pre-RYGB group (p = 0.009). The post-RYGB group presented significantly higher AUCs of GLP-2 than the pre-RYGB group (p < 0.0001), both inactive and active CD groups (p < 0.0001 in both situations), and the control group (p = 0.002). The pre-RYGB group presented a significantly higher AUC of glucose than the post-RYGB (p = 0.02) and both active and inactive CD groups (p = 0.019 and p = 0.046, respectively). The pre-RYGB group presented a significantly higher AUC of insulin than the control (p = 0.005) and both CD groups (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Obesity is associated with an inflammatory state comparable to the one observed in CD; inflammation may also be enrolled in the blockade of GLP-2. CD individuals present a more incretin-driven pattern of glucose metabolism, as a way to prevent hypoglycemia and compensate the carbohydrate malabsorption and GLP-2 blockade.

Review article: the relationship between obesity, bariatric surgery, and inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

The convoluted relationship between obesity, bariatric surgery and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is of increasing interest.

AIM

To analyse evidence regarding the role of bariatric surgery in the development of de novo IBD and its impact on clinical outcomes and safety in patients with established IBD.

METHODS

A PubMed/Medline search was performed to identify studies reporting the development of IBD after bariatric surgery and the outcomes of IBD patients after bariatric surgery.

RESULTS

Eighty patients were reported to have developed de novo IBD after bariatric surgery (21% ulcerative colitis [UC], 75% Crohn's disease [CD]), mostly females. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass was the most frequent bariatric technique (80%). Symptoms related to IBD occurred within 1 month and 16 years after surgery. Regarding patients with known IBD undergoing bariatric surgery, 60 patients (35 CD, 24 UC, and 1 unclassified colitis) have been reported. Sleeve gastrectomy was the most frequent bariatric procedure, particularly in CD patients. Acute flares after surgery were observed in only four UC patients. In addition, two retrospective population-based studies described perioperative outcomes of bariatric surgery on IBD patients, demonstrating only a significant increase in small bowel obstruction in these patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Bariatric surgery in carefully selected patients with established IBD is technically feasible and probably safe. Development of de novo IBD should be taken into account in individuals with previous bariatric surgery who develop diarrhoea, anaemia or excessive weight loss.

Optimisation of follow-up after metabolic surgery

Bariatric surgery has many benefits beyond weight loss, including improved control of glycaemia, blood pressure, and dyslipidaemia; hence, such surgery has been rebranded as metabolic surgery. The operations are, unfortunately, also associated with major surgical and medical complications. The medical complications include gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, malnutrition, and metabolic complications deriving from vitamin and mineral malabsorption. The benefits of surgery can be optimised by implementing specific protocols before and after surgery. In this Review, we discuss the assessment of the risk of major cardiac complications and severe obstructive sleep apnoea before surgery, and the provision of adequate lifelong postsurgery nutritional, vitamin, and mineral supplementation to reduce complications. Additionally, we examine the best antidiabetic medications to reduce the risk of hypoglycaemia after gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy, and the strategies to improve weight loss or reduce weight regain. Although optimising clinical pathways is possible to maximise metabolic benefits and reduce the risks of complications and micronutrient deficiencies, evolution of these strategies can further improve the risk-to-benefit ratio of metabolic surgery.

Bariatric surgery is associated with increased risk of new-onset inflammatory bowel disease: case series and national database study

BACKGROUND

Case series suggest a possible association between bariatric surgery and incident IBD.

AIM

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between bariatric surgery and new-onset IBD.

METHODS

We first conducted a multi-institutional case series of patients with a history of IBD and bariatric surgery. We next conducted a matched case-control study using medical and pharmacy claims from 2008 to 2012 in a US national database from Source Healthcare Analytics LLC. Bariatric surgery was defined by ICD-9 or CPT code. Bariatric surgery was evaluated as recent (code in database timeframe), past (past history V code) or no history. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% CI for new-onset IBD, CD and UC.

RESULTS

A total of 15 cases of IBD (10 CD, 4 UC, 1 IBD, type unclassified) with a prior history of bariatric surgery were identified. Most cases were women, had Roux-en-Y surgery years prior to diagnosis and few IBD-related complications. A total of 8980 cases and 43 059 controls were included in our database analysis. Adjusting for confounders, a past history of bariatric surgery was associated with an increased risk of new-onset IBD (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.34-2.79). However, patients who had recent bariatric surgery did not appear to be at shorter term risk of IBD (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.58-1.52).

CONCLUSION

New-onset IBD was significantly associated with a past history of bariatric surgery. This potential association needs to be confirmed in future prospective studies.

De-novo Inflammatory Bowel Disease After Bariatric Surgery: A Large Case Series

BACKGROUND

Case reports of inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD] have been reported in patients with a history of bariatric surgery. Our aim was to characterize patients who were diagnosed with IBD after having undergone bariatric surgery.

METHODS

Electronic medical records were reviewed at two institutions to identify patients who developed de-novo Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis [UC] after bariatric surgery. Data on demographics, type of bariatric surgical procedure, IBD subtype, phenotype and medication usage were obtained. The incidence rate of de-novo IBD after bariatric surgery [per 100000 person-years] and standardized incidence ratio [SIR] were estimated from a prospective bariatric surgery database.

RESULTS

A total of 44 patients with de-novo IBD after bariatric surgery were identified [31 Crohn's disease, 12 UC, one IBD unclassified]. Most patients were female [88.6%], with median age at IBD onset of 44 years [IQR, 37-52] and median time to IBD diagnosis after bariatric surgery of 7 years [IQR, 3-10]. Sixty-eight per cent underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. In the prospective database, the incidence of IBD in patients who underwent bariatric surgery was 26.7 per 100000 person-years [4.5 for UC and 22.3 for Crohn's disease]. The age-adjusted SIR ranged from 3.56 in the 40-49 year age group to 4.73 in the 30-39 year age group.

CONCLUSION

We described a case series of patients developing de-novo IBD after bariatric surgery. There appears to be a numerically higher incidence of Crohn's disease in this population. Confirmation of causality is required in larger patient cohorts.

Obesity/Bariatric Surgery and Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND

Crohn's disease (CD) following bariatric surgery has been previously described. It is not clear whether the clinical entity is due to rapid metabolism of fat, change in the bacterial milieu of the bowel, the loss of defense mechanisms of the stomach, or even a coincidence.

OBJECTIVES

To present observations which might serve to sort out these various etiologies.

DESIGN

We present 5 cases of colitis, ileocolitis or enteritis, some with fistula formation, with clinical onset following bariatric surgery and add these to the 7 cases previously identified as CD reported elsewhere. We provide the clinical features of these 12 cases to reconcile with causative mechanisms.

LIMITATIONS

It remains possible that the onset of CD (or other inflammatory bowel disease) precedes the bariatric surgery which then accelerates the clinical manifestations described. Furthermore, without controls the association could remain a coincidence.

CONCLUSIONS

We review the evidence for release of proinflammatory cells and cytokines contained in fat following the bariatric surgery, and also consider the roles that the surgical resection of stomach and shortening of the bowel may also bring about this syndrome. The earlier onset is more likely due to surgical loss of defenses of the stomach and the later onset to a metabolic alteration of the presurgical obesity, involving fat metabolism, and/or the microbiome. The role of characteristic creeping fat of CD is also addressed.

Outcomes of Bariatric Surgery in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND

Obesity has become prevalent in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Bariatric surgery can be considered to be contraindicated in IBD patients. We aimed to evaluate feasibility, safety, and efficacy of bariatric surgery in IBD patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively identified all morbidly obese patients with a known diagnosis of IBD, who underwent bariatric surgery between January 2005 and December 2012. Postoperative outcomes and status of IBD in patients on maintenance therapy for their disease were assessed.

RESULTS

We identified 20 IBD patients including 13 ulcerative colitis (UC) and 7 Crohn's disease (CD) patients with a mean age of 54.0 ± 10.5 years, BMI of 50.1 ± 9.0 kg/m(2), and duration of IBD of 11.3 ± 5.2 years. Eleven patients were on medication for IBD at baseline. Bariatric procedures included sleeve gastrectomy (N = 9), gastric bypass (N = 7), gastric banding (N = 3), and one conversion of band to gastric bypass. There were no intraoperative complications, but two conversions to laparotomy due to adhesions. Mean BMI change and excess weight loss at 1 year was 14.3 ± 5.7 kg/m(2) and 58.9 ± 21.1 %, respectively. Seven early postoperative complications occurred including dehydration (N = 5), pulmonary embolism (N = 1), and wound infection (N = 1). During a mean follow-up of 34.6 ± 21.7 months, five patients developed complications including pancreatitis (N = 2), ventral hernia (N = 2), and marginal ulcer (N = 1). Nine out of ten eligible patients experienced improvement in their IBD status.

CONCLUSIONS

Bariatric surgery is feasible and safe in morbidly obese patients suffering from IBD. In addition to being an effective weight loss procedure, bariatric surgery may help mitigate symptoms in this patient population.

Adipokines and the role of visceral adipose tissue in inflammatory bowel disease

Recently, adipocytes have been recognized as actively participating in local and systemic immune responses via the secretion of peptides detectable in relevant levels in the systemic circulation, the so-called "adipo(cyto)kines". Multiple studies appearing within the last 10-15 years have focused on the possible impact of adipose tissue depots on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Consequently, various hypotheses regarding the role of different adipokines in inflammatory diseases in general and in intestinal inflammatory processes in particular have been developed and have been further refined in recent years. After a focused summary of the data reported concerning the impact of visceral adipose tissue on IBD, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, our review focuses on recent developments indicating that adipocytes as part of the innate immune system actively participate in antimicrobial host defenses in the context of intestinal bacterial translocation, which are of utmost importance for the homeostasis of the whole organism. Modulators of adipose tissue function and regulators of adipokine secretion, as well as modifiers of adipocytic pattern recognition molecules, might represent future potential drug targets in IBD.

Does Gastric Surgery (Such as Bariatric Surgery) Impact the Risk of Intestinal Inflammation?

Background

The prevalence of morbid obesity and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is on the rise in association with a Western lifestyle. Both conditions are characterized by chronic inflammation. Bariatric surgery (BS) is a recommended and widely used approach to address severe obesity and its related comorbidities. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) are the most frequently performed procedures worldwide. Evidence is scarce on outcomes of BS in IBD patients.

Summary

Systemic and adipose-tissue inflammation seems to decrease following BS. Different studies observed decreased serum levels of inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, MCP-1, and TNF-α) along with a reduction of insulin resistance both after RYGBP and SG. Several authors documented postbariatric improvement of concomitant chronic inflammatory diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, gout, and psoriasis). There are only few retrospective case series on outcomes of BS in IBD patients. These studies reported safety and feasibility of BS and improvement in IBD status, manifested by prolonged disease remission and decreased use of pharmacotherapy. Weight loss outcomes were excellent and similar to those of non-IBD patients. The preferred surgical approach for morbidly obese IBD patients is SG in order to avoid potential drawbacks of RYGBP, such as malabsorption, intestinal manipulation, and augmentation of technical difficulties for future IBD surgery. Seven cases of newly diagnosed IBD after BS have been reported, which are more likely to result from postoperative intestinal microbial dysbiosis than from directly induced inflammation.

Key Messages

This review summarizes the outcomes of BS in IBD patients. SG is the preferable technique for morbidly obese IBD patients, who have potentially a double benefit from BS: weight loss and IBD remission. Further research is necessary to clarify the common pathophysiology of chronic inflammation in morbid obesity and in IBD. Postbariatric changes in gut microbiota should also be assessed to understand whether they promote IBD development or not.

Bariatric surgery in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: an accessible path? Report of a case series and review of the literature

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Morbid obesity is an emerging problem in the inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] population. Bariatric and IBD surgeries share technical difficulties and elevated morbidity. However, nothing is known about the possibility of performing bariatric surgery in patients with a definite diagnosis of IBD. The aim of this study was to evaluate safety and efficacy of restrictive bariatric surgical procedures in IBD patients.

METHODS

Six patients with morbid obesity and IBD were operated on with restrictive bariatric surgery and concomitant or deferred IBD surgery. We compared BMI, excess weight loss, and perioperative complications of restrictive bariatric surgery in IBD with a control group of 95 bariatric patients. We also evaluated clinical, biochemical, pharmacological, and endoscopic characteristics before and after surgery in IBD patients.

RESULTS

Perioperative results, in terms of BMI, excess weight loss, and complications after restrictive bariatric surgery, were comparable between obese IBD and control patients. IBD patients experienced a significant postoperative reduction in BMI, CRP levels, WCC, and systolic blood pressure and a significant increment in hemoglobin levels. None of the patients reported signs of malabsorption. All the patients except one were able to discontinue steroids, were in endoscopic remission at 1 year, and were in clinical remission at the latest follow-up visit. Two patients halved azathioprine dosage. One patient had a postoperative clinical recurrence treated with adalimumab.

CONCLUSIONS

Bariatric surgery seems to be safe and effective in IBD patients. Concomitant ileocolic resection does not increase perioperative complications. Relationship between IBD and obesity remains unclear, but weight loss could be useful in the pharmacological control of IBD.

The role of bariatric surgery in morbidly obese patients with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

Bariatric surgery is considered as being contraindicated for morbidly obese patients who also have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of our study was to report the outcomes of bariatric surgery in morbidly obese IBD patients.

METHODS

The prospectively collected data of all the patients diagnosed as having IBD who underwent bariatric operations in 2 medical centers between October 2006 and January 2014 were retrieved and analyzed.

RESULTS

One male and 9 female morbidly obese IBD patients (8 with Crohn's disease and 2 with ulcerative colitis) underwent bariatric surgery. Their mean age was 40 years, and their mean body mass index was 42.6 kg/m2. Nine of them underwent a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and 1 underwent a laparoscopic adjustable gastric band. Eight patients had obesity-related co-morbidities, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, osteoarthropathy, etc. After a median follow-up of 46 months (range 9-67), all of the patients lost weight, with an excess weight loss of 71%, and 10 out of 16 obesity-related co-morbidities were resolved. There was 1 complication not related to IBD, and no IBD exacerbation.

CONCLUSION

Bariatric surgery was safe and effective in our morbidly obese IBD patients. The surgical outcome in this selected patient group was similar to that of comparable non-IBD patients.

Severe and morbid obesity in Crohn's disease patients: prevalence and disease associations

BACKGROUND

Crohn's disease (CD) is frequently associated with weight loss and malnutrition. However, as the prevalence of obesity increases worldwide, it may become a clinical problem even in CD.

AIM

To assess the prevalence of severe/morbid obesity in CD patients and to compare their disease characteristics to nonobese CD patients.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of a computerized CD patient database was performed to identify severely/morbidly obese patients (BMI >35). Prevalence was compared to data of the general population. Severely/morbidly obese CD patients were then compared to randomly selected nonobese CD patients (BMI <30) in a 1:3 ratio.

RESULTS

Thirteen severely/morbidly obese patients out of 560 CD patients were found (2.3%), which is significantly lower than the prevalence in the general population (5.6%, p = 0.001). When compared to 39 nonobese CD patients, colonic disease was significantly more common among severely/morbidly obese CD patients (odds ratio: 6, 95% CI: 1.35-26.3, p = 0.02), while there was no difference in other disease parameters. Interestingly, 4 morbidly obese CD patients had undergone laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for treatment of morbid obesity with a favorable surgical course.

CONCLUSION

CD in severely/morbidly obese patients is more often colonic, but otherwise no different than CD in nonobese patients. Sleeve gastrectomy is a viable therapeutic option for morbidly obese CD patients.

The bariatric surgery patient: lost to follow-up; from morbid obesity to severe malnutrition

OBJECTIVE

To describe the potential long-term risk of malnutrition after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (GBP) through an uncommon occurrence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) postoperatively, which posed a serious threat to the nutritional status and the life of the patient.

METHODS

We present a case report of a 44-year-old woman in whom Crohn disease developed 4 years after she had undergone GBP. The double insult of IBD and GBP resulted in severe malnutrition, with a serum albumin concentration of 0.9 g/dL (reference range, 3.5 to 5.0), weight loss, and watery diarrhea necessitating 6 hospital admissions during a period of 7 months.

RESULTS

Ultimately, the administration of total parenteral nutrition with aggressive macronutrient, vitamin, and mineral repletion resulted in substantial improvement in the patient's strength, function, and quality of life, in parallel with diminished symptoms of IBD.

CONCLUSION

Rarely, IBD develops after GBP, but the relationship between the 2 conditions remains unclear. Regardless, in addition to the altered anatomy after bariatric surgery, the further insult of IBD poses a severe threat to the nutritional status of affected patients. Malnutrition needs to be recognized and aggressively treated. Nutritional markers should be followed closely in this population of bariatric patients in an effort to avert the onset of severe malnutrition.

Inflammatory bowel disease in the obese patient

Obesity is becoming increasingly more common among patients with inflammatory bowel disease. In this review, we will explore the epidemiological trends of inflammatory bowel disease, the complex interplay between the proinflammatory state of obesity and inflammatory bowel disease, outcomes of surgery for inflammatory bowel disease in obese as compared with non-obese patients, and technical concerns pertaining to restorative proctocolectomy and ileoanal pouch reservoir, stoma creation and laparoscopic surgery for inflammatory bowel disease in obese patients.

Crohn's disease after gastric bypass surgery

Bariatric surgery for the treatment of severe obesity has increased dramatically in recent years in the USA and parts of Western Europe. The most commonly used technique is the Roux-en Y gastric bypass (RYGBP). Several nutritional and gastrointestinal complications after bariatric surgery have been described during the last 10 years. The authors present two patients with diarrhoea and malnutrition; one after RYGBP and the other after jejunoileal bypass surgery. These patients were subsequently diagnosed with Crohn's disease.

Clinical application of laparoscopic bariatric surgery: an evidence-based review

BACKGROUND

Approximately one-third of U.S. adults are obese. Current evidence suggests that surgical therapies offer the morbidly obese the best hope for substantial and sustainable weight loss, with a resultant reduction in morbidity and mortality. Minimally invasive methods have altered the demand for bariatric procedures. However, no evidence-based clinical reviews yet exist to guide patients and surgeons in selecting the bariatric operation most applicable to a given situation.

METHODS

This evidenced-based review is presented in conjunction with a clinical practice guideline developed by the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES). References were reviewed by the authors and graded as to the level of evidence. Recommendations were developed and qualified by the level of supporting evidence available at the time of the associated SAGES guideline publication. The guideline also was reviewed and co-endorsed by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

RESULTS

Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for severe obesity, producing durable weight loss, improvement of comorbid conditions, and longer life. Patient selection algorithms should favor individual risk-benefit considerations over traditional anthropometric and demographic limits. Bariatric care should be delivered within credentialed multidisciplinary systems. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RGB), adjustable gastric banding (AGB), and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD + DS) are validated procedures that may be performed laparoscopically. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) also is a promising procedure. Comparative data find that procedures with more dramatic clinical benefits carry greater risks, and those offering greater safety and flexibility are associated with less reliable efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic RGB, AGB, BPD + DS, and primary LSG have been proved effective. Currently, the choice of operation should be driven by patient and surgeon preferences, as well as by considerations regarding the relative importance placed on discrete outcomes.