A definitive relationship between adiposity and MP production is yet to be demonstrated. The aim of our study was to prospectively evaluate the levels of microparticles (MP) in a group of 20 III degree obese patients before and after weight loss. Plasma levels of annexin V-MP, endothelial-derived MP, platelet-derived MP (CD61+ and P-Selectin+), leukocyte-derived MP, tissue factor-bearing (TF+) and CD36+MP were prospectively measured in 20 patients with III degree obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m(2)) before (T0) and 3 (T3) and 12 (T12) months after sleeve gastrectomy (SLG). Obese patients had lost 18 % of their body weight at T3 and 41 % at T12. We find that considering all MP, except for endothelial-derived MP, which had significantly decreased at T3, all MP subtypes had significantly decreased at T12. At T12, subjects showed a higher median level of all types of MP, except endothelial-derived MP, compared to T3, but without a statistically significant difference. The percentages of reduction of all the MP were significantly correlated with the percentage of reduction of BMI. The reductions of leukocyte-derived, TF+ and CD36+MP were significantly correlated with the reduction of leptin. Moreover, the reductions of leukocyte-derived and CD36+MP were significantly correlated with hs-CRP decrease. The decrease of BMI post-SLG in morbid obesity was matched with a decrease of circulating MP of endothelial, platelet, leukocyte origin, TF+ and CD36+. A trend of slight increase in all MP subtypes, except endothelial-derived, was detected 12 months after gastrectomy, indicating a possible underlying slow low-grade inflammatory/hypercoagulability state from adipose tissue before the potential overt weight gain.
Keywords: Hypercoagulability; Inflammation; Microparticles; Obesity; Tissue factor.