Title:Bariatric Surgery and Rheumatic Diseases: A Literature Review
VOLUME: 13 ISSUE: 3
Author(s):Gaetano Gallo*, Giuseppe Candilio, Emilia De Luca, Angelo Iannicelli, Guido Sciaudone, Gianluca Pellino, Rosario Sacco, Francesco Selvaggi and Giuseppe Sammarco
Affiliation:Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, O.U. of General Surgery, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurologic, Metabolic and Ageing Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Division of Cardiology, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurologic, Metabolic and Ageing Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurologic, Metabolic and Ageing Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurologic, Metabolic and Ageing Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, O.U. of General Surgery, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurologic, Metabolic and Ageing Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, O.U. of General Surgery, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro
Keywords:Bariatric surgery, metabolic disturbances, obesity, rheumatic diseases, rheumatic manifestations, weight loss.
Abstract:Background: Obesity is a debilitating growing condition and represents a challenge for
every surgeon. It is associated with the activation of the inflammatory pathway and this may have a
negative impact on the natural history of some rheumatic diseases. Bariatric surgery, reducing obesity,
could bring to a minor activation of the well-known inflammatory pathway with improvement of these
diseases. The aim of this review is to investigate the role of weight loss, achieved through bariatric
surgery, in rheumatic diseases.
Materials and Methods: A systematic review of literature was undertaken to evaluate weight loss
subsequent to bariatric surgery in obese patients suffering from some rheumatic diseases (Rheumatoid
Arthritis, Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematous).
Three major databases (PUBMED, EMBASE and WEB OF SCIENCE) were searched.
Results: Three-hundred studies were identified. After screening of titles, abstracts and inclusion criteria
sixteen articles were included. Of the selected articles, seven were reviews, five were case reports,
one was a clinical report, one was a retrospective study, one was a cohort study and one was an author
manuscript.
Conclusion: Weight loss, obtained through bariatric surgery, seems to reduce serum inflammatory
markers as a consequence of the inflammatory pathway reduction and this is connected with both the
improvement of some rheumatic diseases as well as with the reduction in the use of medicaments
(steroids and immunosuppressors).
