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Updated: May 15, 2026

One-anastomosis Gastric Bypass (OAGB) in Rats
Published on: November 10, 2018
Post-gastric-bypass hypoglycemia successfully treated with alpha-glucosidase inhibitor therapy
Shavon Y Frankhouser1, Aakif N Ahmad, Gretchen A Perilli
1Department of Internal Medicine, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA.
Objective:
To review the effectiveness of alpha-glucosidase inhibitor (AGI) therapy in the treatment of hypoglycemia after Roux-en-y gastric surgery.
Methods:
Retrospective case review.
Results:
Four patients who previously underwent Roux-en-y gastric bypass were evaluated because of severe symptomatic postprandial hypoglycemia that was unresponsive to a low-carbohydrate diet. Mixed-meal testing confirmed hyperinsulinemia. Other causes of hypoglycemia were ruled out by a combination of clinical examination, endocrine testing, and computed tomography imaging. Symptomatic hypoglycemia resolved in all 4 patients after AGI therapy was started. One patient could not tolerate long-term therapy because of a rash. The other 3 patients were followed for between 5 and 48 months and remained free of symptomatic postprandial hypoglycemia.
Conclusion:
AGI therapy is effective in the long-term treatment of post-Roux-en-y hypoglycemia in patients unresponsive to a low-carbohydrate diet. To our knowledge, this is the first report documenting the long-term usefulness of this therapy in a series of patients.
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