Gastric bypass in morbidly obese kidney transplant recipients

Severe post‐transplant obesity has previously been shown to have a negative impact on graft survival following kidney transplantation. It also contributes to late patient mortality and is associated with hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia. We undertook Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (GBP) in three morbidly obese (200‐260% ideal body weight) (IBW) patients 6‐8 yr following kidney transplantation. Roux‐en‐Y gastrojejunostomy to a 30 ml stapled gastric pouch was created with the jejunojejunostomy (both loops) 80‐120 cm from the ligament of Treitz. By 12 months post‐GBP, weight loss plateaued at 100‐150% IBW. Both patients that had developed post‐transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) had complete resolution within 9 months following GBP. On average the patients required 3 less hypertension (HTN) medications after GBP; 2 of the 3 patients are now normotensive off medication. Improvements in hyperlipidemia were also shown. The absolute cyclosporine (CSA) requirement (mg/d) increased by approximately 33% (p=NS), and there was also a significant increase in the weight adjusted CSA requirement from 1.8 to 3.5 mg/kg/d (p=0.02, ANOVA) following GBP in order to maintain similar TDX trough CsA levels. GBP offers significant reduction in weight, HTN, PTDM and hyperlipidemia in morbidly obese kidney transplant recipients. However, CSA dose requirements may increase after GBP as a consequence of the defunctionalized intestine.