Effect of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease evaluated through NAFLD fibrosis score: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is common among subjects who undergo bariatric surgery and its postsurgical improvement has been reported. This study aimed to determine the evolution of liver disease evaluated through NAFLD fibrosis score 12 months after surgery.

METHODS: It is a prospective cohort study which evaluated patients immediately before and 12 months following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB).

RESULTS: Mean score decreased from 1.142 to 0.066; surgery led to a resolution rate of advanced fibrosis of 55 %. Resolution was statistically associated with female gender, percentage of excess weight loss, postsurgical body mass index, postsurgical platelet count, and diabetes resolution.

CONCLUSIONS: As previously reported by studies in which postsurgical biopsies were performed, RYGB leads to a great resolution rate of liver fibrosis. Since postsurgical biopsy is not widely available and has a significant risk, calculation of NAFLD fibrosis score is a simple tool to evaluate this evolution through a noninvasive approach.