Changes of inflammatory mediators in obese patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with the impairment of immunological functions. The aim of this study was to analyze some inflammatory mediators in obese subjects who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: Seventeen consecutive female patients with a BMI ranging from 35 to 45 kg/m(2) (obese) and 17 consecutive female patients with BMI ranging from 20 to 25 kg/m(2) (nonobese) were included in the study. All patients were affected by symptomatic gallbladder stone disease 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 leukocyte and neutrophil levels in the obese subjects compared to the nonobese subjects. The serum levels of leptin and IL-6 were higher in the postoperative period (compared to the baseline values in both groups), and always higher in the obese. Both adiponectin and IL-10 increased in the postoperative period in nonobese subjects and was always higher than in the obese. CONCLUSIONS: Obese patients have a stronger acute inflammatory response than do nonobese subjects in reaction to surgical stress