Acute Pancreatitis Likely Due to Semaglutide

Overview

Journal Cureus

Specialty Biomedical Engineering

Date 2024 Sep 23

PMID 39308839

Authors

Katie Hughes

Yovan Ram Kurrun Sumaruth

Elmahi Mohammed

Vibhootee Sant Bakshsingh

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) that has gained recent popularity in its effective management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. Minimal evidence has reported the link between Semaglutide use and acute pancreatitis. In this case report, we discuss the case of a 36-year-old female presenting to the Emergency Department with sudden-onset epigastric pain, subsequently diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. Moreover, she had recently started subcutaneous semaglutide injections for weight loss, which she had procured from one of her acquaintances without seeking medical advice. Semaglutide was thus stopped and her lipase levels normalized with significant improvement of her symptoms, making semaglutide the likely causative factor for her acute pancreatitis. Given the increased use of GLP-1RA, we aim to increase awareness among patients taking this medication whether prescribed or not and increase clinician awareness when prescribing this medication.

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