title: Transient severe hypercholesterolemia following bariatric surgery treated successfully with increased food intake.
abstract: We describe a case of transient severe hypercholesterolemia after bariatric surgery treated successfully with increased food intake. A 25-y-old policeman who had sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity 10 mo previously presented with generalized weakness, constipation, and significant weight loss after severe dietary restriction. All his preoperative and prior investigations were normal. Further investigation revealed severe total and low-density lipoprotein hypercholesterolemia. After all other causes of secondary hypercholesterolemia were excluded, a diagnosis of starvation-induced hypercholesterolemia was made. The patient was therefore started on a normal mixed diet gradually increased to achieve satiation. His dietary intake, body weight, and lipid profile were monitored over a 3-mo period. Eventually his symptoms abated, weight increased, and lipid profile returned back to normal levels. Although dietary management of failed weight loss after bariatric surgery is the main priority for health professionals, this case illustrates the possible harm of severe dietary restriction after surgery and the need for judicious dietary and nutritional management.
authors.affiliation: Tawam Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Khaled Mohammed
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Al Dahmani
authors.affiliation: Tawam Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Yaser M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kayyal
authors.affiliation: Tawam Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates (UAE) University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Electronic address: s.gariballa@uaeu.ac.ae.
authors.forename: Salah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gariballa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050110:Bariatric Surgery; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000178:diet therapy*; D008297:Male; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides
keywords: Bariatric surgery; Hypercholsterolemia; Starvation