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Liver decompensation after rapid weight loss from semaglutide in a patient with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis -associated cirrhosis.

World J Gastroenterol · 2023

Last updated 2026-05-28

A patient with liver cirrhosis caused by non-alcoholic fatty liver disease experienced severe complications after taking semaglutide, a GLP-1 drug. Rapid weight loss led to fluid buildup in the abdomen and brain-related symptoms, requiring a higher priority on the liver transplant waitlist. Stopping the drug and regaining weight improved liver function, lowering the transplant waitlist priority.

AI summary of the abstract below.

JournalWorld J Gastroenterol, 2023
Citations7
Relative citation ratio0.72
NIH percentile40
Molecules semaglutide
Conditions studied Mash, Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract

There is rapidly increasing uptake of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) agonists such as semaglutide worldwide for weight loss and management of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). remains a paucity of safety data in the vulnerable NASH cirrhotic population. We report herein the first documented case of liver decompensation and need for liver transplant waitlisting in a patient with NASH-cirrhosis treated with semaglutide. Rapid weight loss led to the development of ascites and hepatic encephalopathy and an increase in the patients Model for Endstage Liver Disease-Na (MELD-Na) score from 11 to 22. Aggressive nutritional supplementation was commenced and the semaglutide was stopped. Over the following months she regained her weight and her liver recompensated and her MELD-Na decreased to 13, allowing her to be delisted from the transplant waitlist. This case serves as a cautionary tale to clinicians using semaglutide in the cirrhotic population and highlights the need for more safety data in this patient group.

Verbatim abstract via PubMed 38186682 ↗

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