Liraglutide Overdose-Induced Acute Pancreatitis

Abstract

Liraglutide, a long-acting cardioprotective glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 analog, is effective for medical weight loss and glycemic control in type 2 diabetes. It is generally well tolerated with mild side effects. There are few reports on complications from Liraglutide overdose. The aim of this paper is to report the case of a 25-year-old healthy female who presented with acute pancreatitis secondary to Liraglutide overdose and to review the current literature on Liraglutide used for obesity management. The current literature examining the association between acute pancreatitis and Liraglutide use, and Liraglutide overdose are inconclusive. Further research is recommended.

Introduction

Long-acting glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) analogs, such as Liraglutide, are effective for obesity management and glycemic control. GLP-1 analogs enhance pancreatic beta-cell insulin secretion, delay gastric emptying, and enhance satiety. An overdose of such medication may result in generalized gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, hypoglycemia, and pancreatitis. However, Liraglutide overdose and its association with hypoglycemia and pancreatitis need further elucidation. This paper reports a case of Liraglutide overdose-induced acute pancreatitis.

Case presentation

A 25-year-old single female with no medical or surgical history presented to the emergency room with a one-day history of progressively worsening sharp epigastric abdominal pain with radiation to the back associated with nausea and non-bloody, nonbilious emesis. The pain was exacerbated with lying supine, but worsened with positional changes, and was unrelieved by paracetamol. The review of systems was negative for fevers, jaundice, pruritis, diarrhea, anorexia, insomnia, mood changes, exposure to sick contacts, trauma, or recent travel. She reported regular menses. The family history was notable for gallstones, but negative for diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and cardiac diseases or autoimmune diseases. She denied any allergies to medications, tobacco use, heavy alcohol use, illicit drug use, or sexual activity.

The patient reported a two-month history of unsupervised Liraglutide use for medical weight loss. She had obtained the medication without a prescription and had progressively increased the dose until she reached 3 mg, at which point she could not tolerate it due to nausea and vomiting. The medication was discontinued for a month. She resumed the medication at 2.4 mg on the day of presentation to the emergency room, with the onset of symptoms soon thereafter.

On initial examination, the patient was conscious, alert, and oriented to time, place, and person. She was lying in bed in severe pain. The cardiopulmonary exam was unremarkable. Abdominal examination demonstrated diffuse tenderness with focal intensification in the epigastrium with negative Murphy’s sign. The extremity exam was negative for clubbing, cyanosis, or edema.

As per the patient, she went to a different facility before presenting to our hospital and lipase was more than 900 and amylase was more than 200. However, the patient’s vital signs and laboratory parameters are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1. Patient vitals and laboratory parameters in the emergency department.

T: Temperature, HR: Heart Rate, RR: Respiratory Rate, BP: Blood Pressure, spO2 RA: Oxygen Saturation on Room Air, BMI: Body Mass Index, CBC: Complete Blood Count, WBC: White Blood Cell Count, HGB: Hemoglobin Test, HCT: Hematocrit Test, PLT: Platelet (Thrombocyte) Count Test, Na: Blood Sodium Level Test, K: Blood Potassium Level Test, CO₂: Blood Carbon Dioxide Level Test, Cl: Blood Chloride Level Test, BUN: Blood Urea Nitrogen Test, Cr: Creatinine Tests, Ca: Blood Calcium Level Test, T Bili: Total Bilirubin Blood Test, D Bili: Direct Bilirubin Blood Test, Alk Phos: Alkaline Phosphatase Blood Test, LDH: Lactate Dehydrogenase Test, SGOT: Serum Glutamic-Oxaloacetic Transaminase Test, SGPT: Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase Test, GGTP: Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase Test, Beta HCG: Beta Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Test, HbA1C: Hemoglobin A1c Test.

 

Vitals
T 36.9 C	HR 74	RR 20	BP 100/60	SpO2 100% RA	BMI 27
Labs
CBC		RFT		LFT		Other
WBC	12.1	Na	139	T Bili	1.4	Beta HCG	<2.30
HGB	13.4	K	4.2	D Bili	0.4	Lactate	0.88
HCT	43	CO2	20	Alk Phos	67	Glucose	77
PLT	550	Cl	105	LDH	238	HbA1c	5.0
		BUN	9	SGOT	22
		Cr	0.68	SGPT	22
		Ca	9.9	GGTP	14
		Anion Gap	14	Lipase	284
				Amylase	233

Imaging was performed as well. Abdominal and chest radiographs were unremarkable. Abdominal ultrasound was negative for cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, or biliary ductal dilatation (Figures 1, 2). Further, no computed tomography was ordered for the patient.

Figure 1. Normal gallbladder with wall thickness measuring 0.3 cm. No cholelithiasis or pericholecystic fluid, and homogenous hepatic parenchyma.

Figure 2. No intrahepatic biliary ductal dilatation. The visualized part of the CBD is normal, with a diameter of 0.3 cm.

CBD: Common Bile Duct

The patient was admitted to the general surgery services as a case of acute pancreatitis for symptomatic management. She was managed by bowel rest, analgesia, intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and Clexane. The patient showed improvement within 48 hours and was safely discharged with educational materials and follow-up.

Discussion

GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) mediate their effects via receptors expressed in the pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, lungs, heart, and brain [1-3]. GLP-1 RAs were authorized for the treatment of diabetes mellites type 2 in 2005. The various GLP-1 RAs have different dosing schedules. Some GLP-1 RAs are injected once daily, such as Lixisenatide (Adlyxin) and Liraglutide (Saxenda), whereas others follow a twice-daily or once-weekly dosing (Semaglutide) [1]. Furthermore, research from 2016 demonstrates that GLP-1 RAs prevent adverse cardiac events such as stroke and myocardial infarction [1].

The class of medications is generally well-tolerated, and the side-effect profile is mostly gastrointestinal in nature (i.e., nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea). Injection site reactions have been reported, and they are more common with Exenatide formulations and Albiglutides. Reports of hypoglycemic episodes are rare [3]. Pancreatitis is a suspected side-effect of GLP-1 RAs; however, few studies and case reports of GLP-1 RA overdose and its association with acute pancreatitis have been described [4]. A recent case report of autopsy demonstrated pathologic pancreatic changes in patients with diabetes who were treated with incretin-based drugs such as Liraglutide [5]. Furthermore, a recent meta-analysis had near-unanimous reporting of adverse gastrointestinal symptoms suggestive of pancreatitis, but there was no formal diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in the acute phase of illness or in the follow-up period [4-16]. Given these considerations, future research, and evaluation of the short- and long-term consequences of GLP-1RA use and overdose are highly recommended [17].

Conclusions

GLP-1 RA, Liraglutide. is a widely used medication for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Also, Liraglutide is effective for weight reduction, glycaemic control, and prevention of adverse cardiac events. Common side effects of Liraglutide are nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal discomfort. However, hypoglycemia and pancreatitis are reported but not proven to be associated with Liraglutide overdose. Therefore, further investigation is necessary to determine an association between Liraglutide, Liraglutide overdose, and acute pancreatitis.

The content published in Cureus is the result of clinical experience and/or research by independent individuals or organizations. Cureus is not responsible for the scientific accuracy or reliability of data or conclusions published herein. All content published within Cureus is intended only for educational, research and reference purposes. Additionally, articles published within Cureus should not be deemed a suitable substitute for the advice of a qualified health care professional. Do not disregard or avoid professional medical advice due to content published within Cureus.