TBA (22W118)

Case report documenting staggering weight loss with Semaglutide

Author(s)

Catherine Kinsella, Ion Cretu, Jasim Khan, Saleem Akbar

Department(s)/Institutions

Department of Gastroenterology, Naas General Hospital.

Introduction

A 53 year old woman was admitted to hospital with sepsis secondary to cellulitis. She had a background history of morbid obesity, extreme lower limb lymphoedema and was bedbound. During her 5 month hospital admission she contracted Covid pneumonia, had large bowel obstruction with faecalent vomit, developed c.difficile infection, biliary sepsis and successfully managed to loose 132kg weight and walk again.

Aims/Background

The aim of this case study is to highlight the extraordinary weight loss that was achieved using Semaglutide.

Method

Semaglutide starting dose of 0.5mg weekly SC increasing gradually to 1.25mg weekly SC. Calorie restriction diet – 1655kcal/day. 125mg Spironolactone as she had some oedema contributing to her weight.

Results

This woman successfully managed to lose half her body weight as an inpatient over a 5 month period. This was life changing for her. When she came to hospital she weighed 263kg, she was bedbound and it took 8 people to move her. When she left hospital her weight was 131kg and she was able to walk again.

Conclusions

This is the case of extraordinary weight loss. One month into her admission she was started on Semaglutide to aid weight loss. Semaglutide, a GLP-1 agonist, decreases release of glucagon, decreases gastric emptying. Common adverse effects of the drug are nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Cholelithiasis and acute pancreatitis are less common complications. When she developed biliary sepsis antibiotics and high dose Ursofalk were commenced to aid dissolution of cholesterol gallstones. Without Semaglutide this woman would have ended up in long term care.