Preoperative and postoperative urotensin II levels in obese patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

Purpose: This study aimed to compare Urotensin II (UII) levels in adipose tissue and serum between individuals with obesity and those with normal weight. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from individuals with severe obesity prior to laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), and adipose tissue samples were obtained during the procedure. Postoperatively, blood samples were analyzed from individuals whose body mass index (BMI) had normalized after LSG, along with adipose tissue samples from individuals with normal BMI. UII levels and biochemical parameters were measured in both groups. Results: Six months post-LSG, serum UII levels in 60 obese patients significantly decreased compared to preoperative levels. Adipose tissue UII levels in the severely obese group were significantly higher than in the control group. Additionally, serum UII levels in individuals who achieved normal BMI after LSG were lower than their preoperative levels. ROC curve analysis identified cut-off values for LSG suitability: individuals with serum UII levels below 46.88 and tissue UII levels below 202.87 were deemed less suitable for LSG, while those above these thresholds were considered more suitable. Conclusion: The observed differences in UII levels between individuals with normal BMI and those with obesity suggest that UII may play a significant role in the pathophysiology of obesity. These findings highlight its potential as a biomarker for assessing surgical suitability and understanding obesity-related mechanisms.