Kidney Disease Patients can Lose Weight Through Weight Loss Surgery, but Experience Significant Side Effects

A new study presented at the ASN Kidney Week 2013 in Atlanta suggests that while kidney disease patients can successfully lose weight through weight loss surgery, majority of them do experience significant side effects. Weight loss, or bariatric, surgery is currently the most effective treatment for obesity, but recent evidence suggests the complication rate may be higher in those with chronic kidney disease than in those without. To investigate, Helen MacLaughlin (King''s College London) and her colleagues conducted a retrospective study of all obese patients with kidney disease who underwent laparoscopic bariatric surgery in three major London teaching hospitals from 2007 to 2012.

Information obtained from the 74 patients'' medical records revealed that across all forms of surgery, excess weight was lost in 61% of patients one year post-surgery. There were 16 adverse events, including two deaths (3%) related to surgical complications. Acute kidney injury was most frequent (4%), followed by leak (3%), acidosis and elevated blood potassium levels (3%), post-operative chest infection (3%), vitamin B12/iron deficiency (3%), fistula/graft failure (3%), and heart attacks (1%). An additional four deaths occurred during the study period, including two related to cancer.

"While bariatric surgery is effective for weight loss in obese patients with chronic kidney disease, the adverse event and mortality rates are high," the authors concluded. "Identification of risk factors for adverse events and investigation of non-surgical alternatives remain priorities."

Study: "Safety and Efficacy of Bariatric Surgery in Obese Patients with CKD: The London Renal Obesity Network (LonRON) Experience" (Abstract 3076)
Disclosures: Helen L. MacLaughlin is a consultant for Pentec Health. Iain C. Macdougall is a consultant for and receives honoraria and research funding from Amgen, Takeda, Vifor Pharma; consults for and receives honoraria from Johnson & Johnson; and receives research funding from AMAG. Nick Finer is a consultant for Vivus Inc., Novo Nordisk, and Arena; has an ownership interest in Counterweight plc; and receives honoraria from Novo Nordisk. Frederick W.K. Tam is a consultant for and receives research funding from Baxter Biosciences, and receives research funding from AstraZeneca and Glaxo Smith Kline. Jan Flint receives research funding from Shire Pharmaceuticals, British Dietetic Association, and honoraria from Shire Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi-Aventis, Fresenius, and Amgen. Andrew H. Frankel receives honoraria from Boehringer Ingelheim/Lilly Alliance Astra Zeneca.

ASN Kidney Week 2013, the largest nephrology meeting of its kind, will provide a forum for 14,000 professionals to discuss the latest findings in renal research and engage in educational sessions related to advances in the care of patients with kidney and related disorders. Kidney Week 2011 will take place November 5 - 10, 2013 in Atlanta, GA.

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Founded in 1966, and with more than 14,000 members, the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) leads the fight against kidney disease by educating health professionals, sharing new knowledge, advancing research, and advocating the highest quality care for patients.



Source-Newswise