LAUSR

Objective: Bariatric surgery is an effective therapeutic method to lose weight and improve metabolism in extremely obese patients. However, little is known about reactivity of skin microcirculation after bariatric surgery. The aim of this study was to assess changes of post occlusive reactive hyperemic (PORH) response in skin microcirculation among extremely obese patients after six months after bariatric surgery. Design and method: Study population consisted of patients with severe obesity who met the eligibility criteria and underwent bariatric surgery (sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass). Skin blood flow was measured using PeriFlux laser Doppler flowmetry (Periflux System 5000; Perimed, Järfälla/Stockholm, Sweden). Resting flow and PORH were registered before and six months after bariatric surgery. Fast Fourier Transformation of LDF signal of reactive hyperemia was also performed. Data were analyzed in two groups: without (group I) and with hypertension (group II). Statistical analysis was performed with median test. Results: Data from 89 patients (mean age 42.1 ± 11.2 years, 40,4% men) were analyzed. Age and weight loss were similar in group I (n=28) and in group II (n=61). Peak flow increased in group I [44,5 (35,5–64,7) vs 51,2 (33,4–71,6) AU, p < 0,02] after surgery, but it was unchanged in group II [35,0 (24,4–60,4) vs 45,7 (37,1–60,3) AU, p=0,24]. Power of endothelium activity significantly increased and power of neurogenic activity was unchanged in both groups. On the other hand, power of myogenic activity remained unchanged in group I [0,208 (0,144–0,470) vs 0,230 (0,148–0,441) AU2/Hz, p=0,72] and increased in hypertensive subjects [0,190 (0,114–0,257) vs 0,209 (0,162–0,354) AU2/Hz, p=0,001]. Conclusions: Reactivity of skin microcirculation improved in different way in hypertensive and non-hypertensive obese patients after bariatric surgery, but those changes were not associated with improvement of peak flow in patients with hypertension.