title: A preliminary observation of weight loss following left gastric artery embolization in humans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Embolization of the left gastric artery (LGA), which preferentially supplies the gastric fundus, has been shown to produce weight loss in animal models. However, weight loss after LGA embolization in humans has not been previously established. The aim of this study was to evaluate postprocedural weight loss in patients following LGA embolization.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients who underwent LGA embolization for upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding was performed. Postprocedural weight loss in this group was compared to a control group of patients who had undergone embolization of other arteries for upper GI bleeding.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The experimental group (N = 19) lost an average of 7.3% of their initial body weight within three months of LGA embolization, which was significantly greater than the 2% weight loss observed in the control group (N = 28) (P = 0.006). No significant differences were seen between the groups in preprocedural body mass index (BMI), age, postprocedural care in the intensive care unit, history of malignancy, serum creatinine, or left ventricular ejection fraction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current data suggest that body weight in humans may be modulated via LGA embolization. Continued research is warranted with prospective studies to further investigate this phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, FND 216, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Gunn
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, FND 216, Boston, MA 02114, USA ; Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, 290 Gray/Bigelow, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Rahmi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oklu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D005748:Gastric Fundus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy*; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013157:Splenic Artery / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin