Changes of inflammatory mediators in obese patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Obesity is associated with the impairment of immunological functions. The aim of this study was to analyze some inflammatory mediators in obese subjects who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Seventeen consecutive female patients with a BMI ranging from 35 to 45 kg/m(2) (obese) and 17 consecutive female patients with BMI ranging from 20 to 25 kg/m(2) (nonobese) were included in the study. All patients were affected by symptomatic gallbladder stone disease and underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Changes in levels of leukocytes, neutrophils, IL-6, IL-10, leptin, and adiponectin were evaluated.

We observed a significant increase in leukocyte and neutrophil levels in the obese subjects compared to the nonobese subjects. The serum levels of leptin and IL-6 were higher in the postoperative period (compared to the baseline values in both groups), and always higher in the obese. Both adiponectin and IL-10 increased in the postoperative period in nonobese subjects and was always higher than in the obese.

Obese patients have a stronger acute inflammatory response than do nonobese subjects in reaction to surgical stress.