title: Gastric Artery Embolization Trial for the Lessening of Appetite Nonsurgically (GET LEAN): Six-Month Preliminary Data.
abstract: To report 6-month safety and efficacy results of a pilot study of left gastric artery (LGA) embolization for the treatment of morbid obesity (ie, body mass index [BMI] > 40 kg/m(2)).
  
  
  
  Four white patients (three women; average age, 41 y [range, 30-54 y]; mean weight, 259.3 lbs [range, 199-296 lbs]; mean BMI, 42.4 kg/m(2) [range, 40.2-44.9 kg/m(2)]) underwent an LGA embolization procedure with 300-500-µm Bead Block particles via right common femoral or left radial artery approach. Follow-up included upper endoscopy at 3 days and 30 days if necessary and a gastric emptying study at 3 months. Tracked parameters included adverse events; weight change; ghrelin, leptin, and cholecystokinin levels; and quality of life (QOL; by Short Form 36 version 2 questionnaire).
  
  
  
  Three minor complications (superficial gastric ulcerations healed by 30 d) occurred that did not require hospitalization. There were no serious adverse events. Average body weight change at 6 months was -20.3 lbs (n = 4; range, -6 to -38 lbs), or -8.5% (range, -2.2% to -19.1%). Average excess body weight loss at 6 months was -17.2% (range, -4.2% to -38.5%). Patient 4, who had diabetes, showed an improvement in hemoglobin A1c level (7.4% to 6.3%) at 6 months. QOL measures showed a general trend toward improvement, with the average physical component score improving by 9.5 points (range, 3.2-17.2) and mental component score improving by 9.6 points (range, 0.2-19.3) at 6 months.
  
  
  
  Preliminary data support LGA embolization as a potentially safe procedure that warrants further investigation for weight loss in morbidly obese patients.
authors: Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, 3075 Governors Place Blvd., Suite 120, Dayton, OH 45409; Dayton Interventional Radiology, Dayton, Ohio. Electronic address: mubinsyed@aol.com.
authors: Mubin I
authors: MI
authors: Syed
authors: Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, 3075 Governors Place Blvd., Suite 120, Dayton, OH 45409; Dayton Interventional Radiology, Dayton, Ohio.
authors: Kamal
authors: K
authors: Morar
authors: Dayton Interventional Radiology, Dayton, Ohio.
authors: Azim
authors: A
authors: Shaikh
authors: Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, 3075 Governors Place Blvd., Suite 120, Dayton, OH 45409.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Craig
authors: Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, 3075 Governors Place Blvd., Suite 120, Dayton, OH 45409.
authors: Omar
authors: O
authors: Khan
authors: Dayton Interventional Radiology, Dayton, Ohio.
authors: Sumeet
authors: S
authors: Patel
authors: Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
authors: Hooman
authors: H
authors: Khabiri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001069:Appetite Regulation; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004435:Eating; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D013270:Stomach / Q000098:blood supply*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss