Short-term changes in serum leptin concentration following biliopancreatic diversion

Background: The influence of the new anatomico-functional structure created by biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) in the postoperative fall of serum leptin concentration was evaluated. Methods: Serum leptin concentration was determined in obese women before and immediately after BPD, before the usual postoperative intestinal rest. The measurements were repeated at the second postoperative month, when oral intake had nearly totally resumed and the patients had lost the first amount of weight. Results: 5 days following BPD, a sharp reduction of serum leptin concentration was observed. At the second postoperative month the values remained nearly unchanged and were indistinguishable from those observed in a group of obese non-operated patients with a closely similar body weight. Conclusions: Changes in the upper gastrointestinal tract due to BPD appear to have no influence in the postoperative reduction of serum leptin concentration, which appears to be substantially related only to the patient's adiposity.