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Bariatric surgery in a patient with complete MC4R deficiency

Abstract

Bariatric surgery is often successful for treatment of severe obesity. The mechanisms of weight loss after bariatric surgery and the role of central energy homeostatic pathways in this weight loss process are not well understood. The study of individuals with complete loss of function of genes important in the leptin–melanocortin system may help establish the significance of these pathways for weight loss after bariatric surgery. We describe the outcome of bariatric surgery in an adolescent with compound heterozygosity and complete functional loss of both alleles of the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R). The patient underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding and truncal vagotomy at years of age, which resulted in initial, but not long-term weight loss. Our experience with this patient suggests that complete MC4R deficiency impairs response to gastric banding and results in poor weight loss after this surgery.

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Acknowledgements

This publication was supported by NIH/NCRR UCSF-CTSI UL1 RR024131. IA is supported by ADA mentor-based postdoctoral fellowship award, American Heart Association post-doctoral fellowship and Genentech clinical fellowship. SAR was supported by Pediatric Endocrinology Training Grant T32-DK07161. CV is supported by NIH RO1 DK DK60540 and DK068152 as well as an established investigator award from the American Heart Association: AHA#0740041N.

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Correspondence to C Vaisse.

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Aslan, I., Ranadive, S., Ersoy, B. et al. Bariatric surgery in a patient with complete MC4R deficiency. Int J Obes 35, 457–461 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2010.168

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