β-Cell Mass in Individuals With and Without Postbariatric Hypoglycemia After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

Postbariatric hypoglycemia (PBH) is a serious complication of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), characterized by severe hypoglycemia that may lead to loss of consciousness and seizures. The exact mechanism of PBH is poorly understood. One potential mechanism is β-cell expansion. To this end, we investigated β-cell mass in individuals with and without PBH after RYGB using [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging (PET/CT). Individuals with PBH (n = 10) and without PBH (n = 9) after RYGB were included. PET/CT imaging was performed after infusion with 102.2 ± 6.9 MBq of the [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 tracer to quantify pancreatic β-cell mass. The two groups did not differ with respect to sex, age, BMI, and total body weight loss after RYGB. Time between RYGB and inclusion was longer for individuals with PBH compared with those without. β-Cell mass did not differ between the groups. Individuals with PBH had a smaller pancreas than those without. β-Cell mass correlated neither with body weight parameters nor with metabolic parameters. Our data indicating that β-cell mass does not differ between individuals with and without PBH after RYGB argue against expansion of β-cell mass to explain PBH.

The exact mechanism of postbariatric hypoglycemia (PBH) is unclear, but β-cell mass expansion is hypothesized to play a role. We used [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) to determine β-cell mass in individuals with and without PBH after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. β-Cell mass did not differ between individuals with and without PBH. Pancreas volume was lower in individuals with PBH compared with those without PBH. Our data argue against β-cell mass expansion to explain PBH after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Further study is required to understand PBH.