Impact of serum uric acid on renal function after bariatric surgery: a retrospective study

Despite a known negative association between serum uric acid level (SUA) and renal function, this correlation in patients after bariatric surgery remains unknown.

To assess correlation between postoperative SUA and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 12 months after bariatric surgery.

A single tertiary referral center.

A total of 252 patients (age = 40.5 ± 11.2; body mass index = 39.0 ± 5.5 kg/m²) undergoing bariatric surgery divided into 2 groups (i.e., normal renal function [90 ≤ eGFR < 125 mL/min/1.73 m², n = 176] versus renal function impairment [eGFR < 90 mL/min/1.73 m², n = 76]) were assessed for relationships between SUA and eGFR in both groups (primary endpoint) and associations of percentage weight loss with changes in SUA (△SUA) and eGFR (△eGFR) for all patients (secondary endpoint) at 12 months.

Overall, prevalence of hyperuricemia was 40.4% and 22.2% (baseline and postoperative 12 mo, respectively). Reverse relationship was observed between SUA and eGFR (r = -.152, P = .007) for all patients with no association noted between baseline SUA and eGFR in each group as well as between SUA and eGFR at 12 months in the normal group (r = -.076, P = .437). The reverse relationship was found (r = -.417, P = .005) in renal function impairment group for whom SUA was identified as a predictor of eGFR at 12 months. There was no association of percentage weight loss with △SUA (r = .089, P = .601) and △eGFR (r = -.046, P = .785).

The results demonstrated a negative relationship between postoperative SUA and renal function in patients with preexisting renal dysfunction undergoing bariatric surgery. Clinical significance of our findings warrants further investigation.