Left Gastric Artery Embolization in Obese, Prediabetic Patients: A Pilot Study

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of left gastric artery embolization (LGAE) on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in a prospective obese, prediabetic cohort. Materials and Methods: This prospective pilot study included 10 obese, prediabetic patients (7 females and 3 males; mean age 37.5 +/- 8.8 years; range 28-51 years) admitted to the Interventional Radiology Unit between January 2017 and June 2018 for LGAE for weight reduction. The main inclusion criteria were body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m(2) and HbA1c ranging from 5.7 to 6.4. Body weight, BMI, and HbA1c were assessed for each patient preprocedure and at 6 months postprocedure. Statistical analysis was performed using a paired sample t test. Results: The baseline mean body weight, BMI, and HbA1c were 107.4 +/- 12.8 kg, 37.4 +/- 3.3 kg/m(2), and 6 +/- 0.2, respectively. Concerning complications, no serious adverse events were detected. Six months after the procedure, the mean body weight and BMI significantly decreased to 98 +/- 11.6 kg and 34.1 +/- 3 kg/m(2), respectively (P <.0001). A paired sample t test showed a significant reduction in. HbA1c from pre- to postproceclure (6.1 +/- 0.2 preprocedure vs 4.7 +/- 0.6 postprocedure, P <.0001). The mean percent reductions in body weight, BMI, and HbA1c were 8.9% +/- 1.2, 8.8% +/- 1, and 21.4% +/- 8.9, respectively. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between BMI and HbA1c after the procedure (r = 0.91, P = .0002). Conclusions: LGAE is well tolerated and leads to clinically significant decreases in weight and HbA1c in obese, prediabetic patients.