Effects of Semaglutide on Glycemic Control and Weight Loss in a Patient with Prader-Willi Syndrome: A Case Report.
Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets · 2022
Last updated 2026-05-28In a 33-year-old man with Prader-Willi syndrome, poorly controlled diabetes, and severe obesity, weekly injections of semaglutide (1 mg) for 12 months reduced blood sugar levels from 11.1% to 7.2% and body weight from 99.5 kg to 94.3 kg. The treatment also lowered fat mass and insulin needs, whereas a previous therapy with liraglutide had shown no significant effect.
AI summary of the abstract below.
| Journal | Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets, 2022 |
|---|---|
| Citations | 4 |
| Relative citation ratio | 0.37 |
| NIH percentile | 23 |
| Molecules | semaglutide |
| Conditions studied | Obesity |
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Prader-Willi syndrome is the most frequent genetic cause of obesity and is often complicated by glucose metabolism alterations. Conventional therapies prescribed for type 2 diabetes frequently failed to achieve adequate glycemic control in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome. Beneficial effects of glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonists exenatide and liraglutide have been reported for the management of type 2 diabetes in Prader-Willi syndrome, but no data are currently available in this population on the use of semaglutide.
CASE PRESENTATION: We report for the first time the use of semaglutide 1 mg per week in a 33-yearold man with Prader-Will syndrome complicated by poorly controlled diabetes and severe obesity. After 12 months of semaglutide treatment, we observed an important reduction in glycated hemoglobin levels (11.1% to 7.2%) and body weight (99.5 kg to 94.3 kg), with a notable decrease in fat mass and insulin requirements. Interestingly, our patient had already tried liraglutide therapy in adjunction to metformin and insulin therapy, reporting no substantial efficacy.
CONCLUSION: The beneficial effects of semaglutide on glycemic control and weight reduction provide a promising treatment for diabetes and obesity in Prader-Willi syndrome, even where other glucagons like peptide-1 receptor agonists have failed. Further studies are required to confirm the efficacy and safety of semaglutide in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome.
Verbatim abstract via PubMed 35538810 ↗
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