Effect of biliopancreatic diversion on hypertension in severely obese patients.

Hypertension is a medical disorder frequently associated with severe obesity, and the effect of weight loss on the reduction of blood pressure has been well established. In this study, the relationships between the weight loss surgically obtained by biliopancreatic diversion and blood pressure were investigated in a population of severely obese patients with preoperative hypertension. At 1 year following the operation, blood pressure was normalized in more than half of patients; in a further 10% of cases the hypertensive status resolved within the 3-year follow-up period. The resolution of hypertension was independently associated with age and body weight and was unrelated to sex, the amount of weight loss, or body fat distribution. In severely obese patients with hypertension undergoing bariatric surgery, biliopancreatic diversion is advisable since it achieves and supports the maintenance of body weight close to the ideal value.