Semaglutide Therapy Linked to Acute Pancreatitis in 41-Year-Old Man for Weight Loss

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a severe, potentially life-threatening inflammatory condition of the pancreas, capable of progressing to systemic inflammation and multi-organ dysfunction. While common causes like gallstones and alcohol are well-established, drug-induced acute pancreatitis (DIAP) presents a diagnostic challenge, particularly when rare etiologies are involved. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists, such as semaglutide, have been associated with AP in rare instances, making awareness of this potential adverse effect crucial for clinicians. Despite improvements in supportive care, there is currently no specific drug therapy for AP itself, underscoring the importance of identifying and discontinuing causative agents.

This report details the case of a 41-year-old Saudi man who presented with epigastric pain following the initiation of subcutaneous semaglutide therapy. The patient was receiving semaglutide for weight loss, indicating non-diabetic use. Upon admission, laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate his condition. The diagnostic process focused on confirming acute pancreatitis and systematically ruling out other common causes to identify the likely etiology. The intervention was the administration of semaglutide, and the primary endpoint was the diagnosis of AP.

The patient, a 41-year-old Saudi man, developed significant epigastric pain after starting subcutaneous semaglutide for weight loss. Subsequent laboratory test results confirmed the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis (AP). Crucially, a thorough clinical investigation found no evidence of the more common causes of AP, such as gallstones or alcohol consumption, which are typically the primary suspects. This absence of alternative etiologies strongly implicated semaglutide as the probable cause of the patient's AP. The diagnosis of AP was based on established clinical and biochemical criteria, including elevated pancreatic enzyme levels. The patient's presentation underscores the importance of considering drug-induced etiologies even for medications generally considered safe and effective. Clinicians should be aware of this potential adverse effect, particularly in patients without a history of diabetes mellitus who are using the drug for weight loss. Early recognition and discontinuation of the drug are crucial for the management of this condition.

This case highlights semaglutide-induced acute pancreatitis as a rare but serious adverse effect, particularly in patients without a history of diabetes mellitus using the drug for weight loss.