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Improvement of Renal Function After Bariatric Surgery: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

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A Correction to this article was published on 07 September 2021

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Abstract

Background/Objective

The effect of bariatric surgery in renal function varies and the postoperative benefit time point remains unclear. We aim to assess the changes of renal function after bariatric surgery (BS) in different postoperative periods and subgroups.

Methods

We searched the databases of PubMed and Cochrane from inception to December 14, 2020. Articles included in the study were drawn from all recipients of BS that provided assessments of renal function pre and post-surgery. Meta-analysis was performed to compare glomerular filtration rate (GFR), serum creatinine, albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), and albuminuria before and after BS.

Results

The study included 49 articles involving 8515 patients. Compared with pre-operative renal function, the overall analysis showed that bariatric surgery significantly reduced serum creatinine levels, ACR, and albuminuria. There was significant increase of GFR in the CKD subgroup, yet a noticeable decrease in the hyperfiltration subgroup. The most significant improvement in GFR was seen 6–12 months after BS, while ACR dropped most dramatically 12–24 months after BS.

Conclusions

Bariatric surgery can improve renal function in obese patients with kidney dysfunction, especially 1 year after surgery.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou, China (Grant No. 202002020069).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Surgical Center for Obesity and Diabetes, Jinshazhou Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510515, China

    Hongyan Huang, Xiaojiang Dai & Liangping Wu

  2. UDM Medical Group, Guangzhou, 510515, China

    Hongyan Huang, Xiaojiang Dai & Liangping Wu

  3. Clinical Research Center, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China

    Hongyan Huang

  4. School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410013, China

    Jun Lu

  5. Clinical Medicine Eight-Year Program, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, 18 Grade, Changsha, 410013, China

    Zhixin Li

  6. Department of General Surgery, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China

    Liyong Zhu & Shaihong Zhu

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  1. Hongyan Huang
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  2. Jun Lu
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  3. Xiaojiang Dai
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  4. Zhixin Li
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Correspondence to Liangping Wu.

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Key Points

• Bariatric surgery can improve renal function only in obese patients with kidney dysfunction.

• Renal function improved most after 1 year of bariatric surgery.

• Compared with RYGB (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass), patients received SG (sleeve gastrectomy) benefited more in the reduction of serum creatinine.

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Huang, H., Lu, J., Dai, X. et al. Improvement of Renal Function After Bariatric Surgery: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. OBES SURG 31, 4470–4484 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-021-05630-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-021-05630-4

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