ABSTRACT
Introduction: Obesity is an important risk factor associated with poor cardiovascular outcomes. Lifestyle modification, pharmaceutical, and intragastric balloons weight loss therapy are often unsuccessful, unsustainable, or accompanied by risks. Transcatheter bariatric embolotherapy (TBE) is a promising therapy in which the left gastric artery is embolized to reduce the expression of “hunger” hormones from the gastric fundus. Despite several early clinical trials, long-term safety or efficacy has yet to be studied. We originally studied TBE in a double-blind, sham procedure, first in human RCT of 40 obese patients (pts) (NCT03185949). Complete details regarding the initial RCT were previously published, briefly the study demonstrated up to 9.3% TBWL at 1-year post-TBE. Following completion of the initial study at 1 year followup, we asked subjects to return for long-term evaluation. Methods: Subjects who previously completed the RCT with no major protocol deviations were asked to return for SOC follow-up visits at 2-, 2.5-, and 3-years post-embolization for further evaluation on weight loss, blood pressure, pre-diabetic clinical status, satiety, and Quality of Life (QoL). Given the evolving situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, the study site was unable to complete all planned study visits. Results: Between 2-3 years post-TBE subjects (n=11) demonstrated a mean 9% TBWL and 25% EBWL. This cohort of patients demonstrated a long-term weight loss maintenance, with previously reported weight loss of 8% TBWL at 1-year post-embolization. Overall QoL at 2 years postTBE increased by approximately 22%. The volume to achieve satiety was reduced by 33% in long-term follow-up. Oral Disposition Index increased from 1.89 mM at 6 months post-TBE to 4.41 mM 2 years postTBE. 1-hr Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) C-Peptide levels decreased from 3.22 nmol/L at 6 months to 2.53 nmol/L at 2 years post-TBE. 2-hr OGTT C-Peptide levels also showed a decrease from 2.95 nmol/L at 6 months to 1.78 nmol/L at 2 years post-TBE, possibly indicating an improvement in pre-diabetic status. Conclusions: Bariatric embolization is safe and when used along with lifestyle therapy, results in clinically significant and sustained weight loss up to 2-3 years post-TBE.