Preoperative ghrelin levels predict weight reduction after subtotal gastrectomy for gastric cancer

Key clinical point: Preoperative plasma levels of the appetite-regulating gut hormone ghrelin may predict postoperative weight loss in patients who have undergone subtotal gastrectomy (STG) for gastric cancer.

Major finding: After adjusting for confounders, the area under the curve preoperative ghrelin level showed a significant negative correlation (ρ –0.8; P  =  .024) with the change in weight loss in the 4 months after STG.

Study details: Findings are from a prospective study including 13 patients aged 20-75 years with gastric cancer who underwent STG and 14 controls with no history of gastrointestinal surgery.

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Disclosures: This study was supported by The Korean Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Jung HK et al. Association between gut regulatory hormones and post-operative weight loss following gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2022;28(3):409-417 (Jul 30). Doi: 10.5056/jnm21145