Clinical Significance and Risk Factors of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases After Whipple Procedure

Introduction: The etiology and management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors and outcomes of NAFLD after PD (PD-NAFLD). Methods: Patients who underwent PD at our institution between June 2019 and September 2021 were enrolled in the study. The clinical manifestations and outcomes of the patients with PD-NAFLD were evaluated. Multivariable analysis was used to identify risk factors for PD-NAFLD. Results: Of the 407 patients enrolled, PD-NAFLD was identified in 54 (13.2%). The median time of onset of PD-NAFLD was 72.5 (51.5-171.25) d postoperatively. Twenty-four patients (44.4%) recovered completely within 36 mo postoperatively. Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered in 147 malignant cases, and patients with PD-NAFLD encountered delay or discontinuation of chemotherapy more frequently than those without PD-NAFLD (55.9% versus 30.1%, P = 0.006). Multivariable analysis identified female sex, high body mass index, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy as independent risk factors for PD-NAFLD. Conclusions: PD-NAFLD is a common complication of PD. Female sex, high body mass index, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy may be associated with the development of PD-NAFLD. PD-NAFLD may interrupt the delivery of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with malignant tumors.