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Significant elevation of serum CA19-9 and CA242 levels induced by dulaglutide.

BMJ Case Rep · 2024

Last updated 2026-05-28

A woman in her mid-60s with type 2 diabetes taking dulaglutide for 16 months showed unusually high levels of two pancreatic tumor markers, CA19-9 and CA242, during a routine checkup. Doctors found no signs of cancer or other diseases after testing, and concluded the high marker levels were a side effect of dulaglutide. When she stopped taking the drug, her marker levels returned to normal within 6 weeks.

AI summary of the abstract below.

JournalBMJ Case Rep, 2024
Citations0
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Molecules dulaglutide

Abstract

The use of dulaglutide, a common medication for managing type 2 diabetes, rarely causes elevated pancreatic tumour markers. Here, we report the case of a woman in her mid-60s with diabetes for over 10 years. The patient presented with markedly elevated serum CA19-9 and CA242 levels revealed during a routine health examination despite being asymptomatic. She had been receiving dulaglutide injections for 16 months. Imaging and interventional assessments did not reveal any hepatobiliary, gastrointestinal or pancreatic neoplasm. After excluding alternate diagnoses, the patient was determined to exhibit an adverse reaction to dulaglutide use. Management involved the discontinuation of dulaglutide, which resulted in normalisation of serum CA19-9 and CA242 levels within 6 weeks. This case underscores the importance of discontinuing dulaglutide and monitoring changes in the biomarker levels in asymptomatic patients receiving dulaglutide, rather than immediately resorting to imaging and endoscopic examinations.

Verbatim abstract via PubMed 38719260 ↗

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