Skin Autofluorescence and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Evaluation Following Bariatric Surgery in Patients with Severe Obesity

Purpose Advanced glycation end product (AGE) is a marker of metabolic memory. Accumulated AGEs in skin collagen measured with skin autofluorescence (SAF) was found to be associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. We aimed to evaluate SAF and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and its association with clinical and biochemical parameters in severely obese patients before and after bariatric surgery. Materials and Methods In this observational study, 432 morbid obese patients evaluated before and after 6 and 12 months of bariatric surgery for metabolic and anthropometric parameters, CIMT and SAF. SAF was assessed in the forearm with an AGE Reader. Results SAF measurements were higher in diabetic (2.04 ± 0.52 AU) obese patients compared to non-diabetic (1.78 ± 0.40 AU) obese patients ( p