Hepatic granulomas following ileal bypass for obesity

A review of liver biopsy specimens from patients undergoing ileojejunal bypass for obesity showed granulomas in follow-up biopsy specimens from six of 25 patients (24%) three months to four years after the procedure. The incidence was significantly greater than that seen in obese patients at the time of surgery (4%), (P less than .02). Their origin could not be attributed to systemic infections, medications, or nutritional factors. It would seem that hepatic granulomas in such patients may be due to factors associated with the surgical procedure.