title: Time-course of changes of visceral fat area, liver volume and liver fat area during intragastric balloon therapy in Japanese super-obese patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the changes in the clinical parameters during intragastric balloon therapy for Japanese obese patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between March 2009 and September 2010, 8 patients underwent intragastric balloon therapy at our hospital. The visceral fat area, liver volume and the liver-spleen ratio were measured by computed tomography. Blood examination and computerized tomography were performed before the balloon placement, and at 1, 3 and 6 months after the balloon placement in all of the patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight patients (5 males and 3 females, median age, 39 years; median BMI, 44.0 kg/m(2)) underwent intragastric balloon therapy without severe complications. The median weight loss was 8.6 kg, mean BMI loss was 2.8 kg/m(2), and the percent excess weight loss was 14.8% at 6 months after the balloon placement. The body weight and liver volume decreased significantly during the first month, and the results were maintained at the same levels until after the second month. The liver-spleen ratio also improved significantly during the first month, but worsened again during the last 3 months. The visceral fat area showed no significant differences during the treatment as well as no differences in liver enzymes, glucose and lipid metabolism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intragastric balloon therapy achieved a moderate effect in weight and liver volume reduction during the early months of the treatment. Intragastric balloon therapy may have a role as a minimally invasive method for pretreatment before laparoscopic surgery.
authors: Gastroenterology Division, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors: Yusuke
authors: Y
authors: Sekino
authors: Kento
authors: K
authors: Imajo
authors: Eiji
authors: E
authors: Sakai
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Uchiyama
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Iida
authors: Hiroki
authors: H
authors: Endo
authors: Kunihiro
authors: K
authors: Hosono
authors: Yasunari
authors: Y
authors: Sakamoto
authors: Koji
authors: K
authors: Fujita
authors: Masato
authors: M
authors: Yoneda
authors: Hirokazu
authors: H
authors: Takahashi
authors: Tomoko
authors: T
authors: Koide
authors: Chikako
authors: C
authors: Tokoro
authors: Yasunobu
authors: Y
authors: Abe
authors: Satoru
authors: S
authors: Saito
authors: Shin
authors: S
authors: Maeda
authors: Eiji
authors: E
authors: Gotoh
authors: Masahiro
authors: M
authors: Takihata
authors: Yasuo
authors: Y
authors: Terauchi
authors: Atsushi
authors: A
authors: Nakajima
authors: Masahiko
authors: M
authors: Inamori
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015905:Gastric Balloon; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000473:pathology*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult