Short-term use of liraglutide in the management of patients with weight regain after bariatric surgery

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the results of the use of liraglutide in a group of patients undergoing surgical treatment of morbid obesity with unsatisfactory weight loss or regain of more than 15% of minimum reached weight.

Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of 15 operated patients who had excess weight loss <50% after two years of follow-up or regained weight more than 15% of the minimum reached weight. We included only patients who had the expected "surgical anatomy", assessed by contrast radiography and endoscopy. Mean age was 47.2 ± 12.5 years, and patients received liraglutide at doses from 1.2 to 3.0 mg/day for eight to 28 weeks follow-up.

Results: Surgical treatment induced a weight loss of 34.1 ± 16.5 kg. The average weight regain after 5.3 ± 3.3 years was 14.2 ± 12.1 Kg. The average weight was significantly reduced after treatment with liraglutide (100.9 ± 18.3 kg. vs Kg 93.5 ± 17.4, p <0.0001). Six patients had nausea and two discontinued therapy due to the cost of medication.

Conclusion: medical treatment directed to the control of satiety using liraglutide may be an alternative treatment of patients with poor weight loss or weight regain after surgery when no technical problem has been identified.