DO ARTHRALGIAS OCCUR AFTER BILIO-INTESTINAL BYPASS FOR MORBID-OBESITY

Background: Intestinal bypass operations are used occasionally for tre ating morbid obesity if other methods are unsuitable. Jejuno-ileal byp ass (JIB) operations are considered to be a cause of occasional joint pain related disorders. However, biliointestinal bypass (BIB) is inten ded to avoid the blind loop syndrome. This study compared joint pain d isorders in an operated BIB group, an obese nonoperated control group, and a lean reference group. Methods: Using a questionnaire in a cross -sectional study, pain disorders were investigated in age-, sex- and w eight-matched groups of operated, obese and lean subjects. The operate d group had previously had a BIB and was matched using the preoperativ e BMI (body mass index, kg/m(2)). Results: Mean time since operation w as 12.4 years (SD 3.4) and the BIB group had lost 15.2 kg/m(2) compare d with the obese control group. These two groups had a high frequency of pain disorders of similar distribution, differing significantly fro m the lean reference group. No evidence of major differences in the ty pe of pain disorders could be seen in the two groups. Conclusion: Pain disorder was an integral part of an obese syndrome, and was not affec ted significantly by weight reduction after BIB. The study appears to support the view that approximately 4% of patients develop arthritis v asculitis syndrome after BIB. (C) 1998 Lippincott-Raven Publishers.