Clinical Characteristics and Outcome of Morbidly Obese Bariatric Patients with Concurrent Hepatitis C Viral Infection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important cause of liver cirrhosis and its complications. The safety and efficacy of bariatric surgery in patients with HCV infection is not clear.Charts were reviewed to identify patients with HCV infection before bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgical patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and without NASH (non-NASH) were recruited as comparative groups. Demographic variables, perioperative data, follow-up, and HCV-related parameters were extracted and compared.Forty-seven bariatric patients between 2000 and 2016 that suffered from HCV infection were identified. The mean age and body mass index (BMI) at baseline were 34.5 ± 9.9 years and 40.4 ± 7.7 kg/mCo-existence of HCV infection does not influence the outcome of bariatric surgery but continued monitoring of the liver function is indicated.