Changes of Inflammatory Mediators in Obese Patients After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Background Obesity is associated with the impairment ofimmunological functions. The aim of this study was toanalyze some inflammatory mediators in obese subjectswho underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Methods Seventeen consecutive female patients with aBMI ranging from 35 to 45 kg/m2 (obese) and 17 consecutivefemale patients with BMI ranging from 20 to25 kg/m2 (nonobese) were included in the study. Allpatients were affected by symptomatic gallbladder stonedisease and underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Changes in levels of leukocytes, neutrophils, IL-6, IL-10,leptin, and adiponectin were evaluated.Results We observed a significant increase in leukocyteand neutrophil levels in the obese subjects compared to thenonobese subjects. The serum levels of leptin and IL-6were higher in the postoperative period (compared to thebaseline values in both groups), and always higher in theobese. Both adiponectin and IL-10 increased in the postoperativeperiod in nonobese subjects and was alwayshigher than in the obese.Conclusions Obese patients have a stronger acuteinflammatory response than do nonobese subjects in reactionto surgical stress.