Changes in Plasma Growth Differentiation Factor-15 After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy in Morbidly Obese Patients: A Prospective Study

This study aimed to assess the potential changes of Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in morbidly obese patients. We conducted a prospective study on 68 patients who underwent LSG and 58 cases, who were enrolled as a control group, to whom conservative measures of weight loss were adopted. Both groups were followed for 12 months. At the baseline, the serum GDF15 was comparable between LSG and conservative groups (409.93±119 versus 385.8±120.2 pg/mL, p =0.246). However, at 12 months after the operation, the serum GDF15 was significantly higher in the LSG than conservative groups (699.941 ±193.5 versus 559 ±159.7; p