Semaglutide-Induced Lupus Erythematosus With Multiorgan Involvement.

Castellanos V, Workneh H, Malik A, Mehta B

Cureus1 Mar 2024Cited by 10 (Europe PMC)

PMID38559525PMCIDPMC10981839DOI10.7759/cureus.55324PepBankPUB-38559525

Summary

We report the case of a 76-year-old female who presented with a new onset of petechial rash in her lower extremities after the introduction of a new agent, semaglutide. She started taking this medication three months before her presentation at an initial dosage of 0.5 mg subcutaneously every week. She noticed a 15-pound weight loss and debilitating fatigue within that timeframe. She stopped taking the medication due to nontolerance and GI upset (nausea and vomiting) about a week before her hospitalization. She denied the use of any other agents. Initial lab work revealed elevated transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, and inflammatory markers. A CT of the abdomen revealed mild cirrhosis and hepatosplenomegaly. Other causes for cirrhosis were effectively ruled out with negative viral hepatitis, ceruloplasmin levels, and the HFE gene. An autoimmune panel was conducted, yielding positive antinuclear antibody (ANA), anti-histone antibodies, elevated double-stranded DNA, as well as low complement levels supporting evidence of drug-induced lupus (DIL). Anti-mitochondrial M2 and anti-smooth antibodies were also detected, indicating a possible overlap syndrome with autoimmune hepatitis. Perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (P-ANCA) and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (C-ANCA) were negative and ruled out the possibility of ANCA-associated vasculitis. The patient's condition improved with pulse-dose steroids, leading to an improvement in liver function tests. Consequently, the decision to perform skin and liver biopsies was deferred. She was discharged with a tapering dose of steroids and scheduled for outpatient follow-up to monitor her progress. This case report can offer insights to healthcare providers regarding the potential side effects of GLP-1 RAs in their patient population.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study8

8 results from studies that gave the peptide. 8 results from people.

01HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome
In a 76-year-old woman, semaglutide was followed by positive ANA, anti-histone antibodies, elevated double-stranded DNA and low complement, supporting drug-induced lupus.
In plain wordsIn one older woman, autoimmune blood tests pointed to drug-induced lupus after she started semaglutide.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
IncreaseDrug-induced lupus erythematosus
Study
n = 1
Outcome group
Adverse events · Immune and inflammation
Studied dose
0.5 mg every week (initial dosage) · subcutaneous · three monthsAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
An autoimmune panel was conducted, yielding positive antinuclear antibody (ANA), anti-histone antibodies, elevated double-stranded DNA, as well as low complement levels supporting evidence of drug-induced lupus (DIL).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We report the case of a 76-year-old female who presented with a new onset of petechial rash in her lower extremities after the introduction of a new agent, semaglutide.
Summary · context
She started taking this medication three months before her presentation at an initial dosage of 0.5 mg subcutaneously every week.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3855952501
02HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome
In a 76-year-old woman, a new petechial rash of the lower extremities appeared after semaglutide was started.
In plain wordsIn one older woman, a new rash on the legs appeared after she started semaglutide.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
IncreasePetechial rash
Study
n = 1
Outcome group
Adverse events · Skin and wound
Studied dose
0.5 mg every week (initial dosage) · subcutaneous · three monthsAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
We report the case of a 76-year-old female who presented with a new onset of petechial rash in her lower extremities after the introduction of a new agent, semaglutide.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
She started taking this medication three months before her presentation at an initial dosage of 0.5 mg subcutaneously every week.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3855952502
03HumanCase report or seriesEfficacy outcome
In a 76-year-old woman, a 15-pound weight loss was noticed within about three months of starting semaglutide.
In plain wordsOne older woman noticed a 15-pound weight loss within about three months of starting semaglutide.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
DecreaseWeight loss
Study
n = 1
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
0.5 mg every week (initial dosage) · subcutaneous · three monthsAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
She noticed a 15-pound weight loss and debilitating fatigue within that timeframe.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We report the case of a 76-year-old female who presented with a new onset of petechial rash in her lower extremities after the introduction of a new agent, semaglutide.
Summary · context
She started taking this medication three months before her presentation at an initial dosage of 0.5 mg subcutaneously every week.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3855952503
04HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome
In a 76-year-old woman, debilitating fatigue developed within three months of starting semaglutide.
In plain wordsOne older woman had severe tiredness within about three months of starting semaglutide.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
IncreaseFatigue
Study
n = 1
Outcome group
Adverse events · Whole body
Studied dose
0.5 mg every week (initial dosage) · subcutaneous · three monthsAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
debilitating fatigue within that timeframe.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We report the case of a 76-year-old female who presented with a new onset of petechial rash in her lower extremities after the introduction of a new agent, semaglutide.
Summary · context
She started taking this medication three months before her presentation at an initial dosage of 0.5 mg subcutaneously every week.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3855952504
05HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome
In a 76-year-old woman, semaglutide was stopped because of nontolerance and GI upset with nausea and vomiting.
In plain wordsOne older woman stopped semaglutide because of nausea, vomiting and stomach upset.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
IncreaseNausea and vomiting with GI upset
Study
n = 1
Outcome group
Gastrointestinal adverse events · Gastrointestinal
Studied dose
0.5 mg every week (initial dosage) · subcutaneous · three monthsAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
She stopped taking the medication due to nontolerance and GI upset (nausea and vomiting) about a week before her hospitalization.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We report the case of a 76-year-old female who presented with a new onset of petechial rash in her lower extremities after the introduction of a new agent, semaglutide.
Summary · context
She started taking this medication three months before her presentation at an initial dosage of 0.5 mg subcutaneously every week.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3855952505
06HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome
In a 76-year-old woman, initial labs showed elevated transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin and inflammatory markers after semaglutide.
In plain wordsOne older woman had raised liver and inflammation blood tests after taking semaglutide.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
IncreaseLiver enzymes and inflammatory markers
Study
n = 1
Outcome group
Liver fat and liver function · Liver
Studied dose
0.5 mg every week (initial dosage) · subcutaneous · three monthsAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Initial lab work revealed elevated transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, and inflammatory markers.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We report the case of a 76-year-old female who presented with a new onset of petechial rash in her lower extremities after the introduction of a new agent, semaglutide.
Summary · context
She started taking this medication three months before her presentation at an initial dosage of 0.5 mg subcutaneously every week.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3855952506
07HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome
In a 76-year-old woman, abdominal CT showed mild cirrhosis and hepatosplenomegaly after semaglutide; other causes of cirrhosis were ruled out.
In plain wordsOne older woman had signs of mild liver scarring and an enlarged liver and spleen on a scan after taking semaglutide.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
IncreaseMild cirrhosis and hepatosplenomegaly on CT
Study
n = 1
Outcome group
Liver fat and liver function · Liver
Studied dose
0.5 mg every week (initial dosage) · subcutaneous · three monthsAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
A CT of the abdomen revealed mild cirrhosis and hepatosplenomegaly.
3 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Other causes for cirrhosis were effectively ruled out with negative viral hepatitis, ceruloplasmin levels, and the HFE gene.
Summary · context
We report the case of a 76-year-old female who presented with a new onset of petechial rash in her lower extremities after the introduction of a new agent, semaglutide.
Summary · context
She started taking this medication three months before her presentation at an initial dosage of 0.5 mg subcutaneously every week.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3855952507
08HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome
In a 76-year-old woman, anti-mitochondrial M2 and anti-smooth antibodies indicated a possible overlap syndrome with autoimmune hepatitis after semaglutide.
In plain wordsOne older woman had antibodies that may point to an autoimmune liver problem after taking semaglutide.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
IncreaseOverlap syndrome with autoimmune hepatitis
Study
n = 1
Outcome group
Adverse events · Immune and inflammation
Studied dose
0.5 mg every week (initial dosage) · subcutaneous · three monthsAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Anti-mitochondrial M2 and anti-smooth antibodies were also detected, indicating a possible overlap syndrome with autoimmune hepatitis.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We report the case of a 76-year-old female who presented with a new onset of petechial rash in her lower extremities after the introduction of a new agent, semaglutide.
Summary · context
She started taking this medication three months before her presentation at an initial dosage of 0.5 mg subcutaneously every week.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3855952508

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 00:04 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 03:06 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

Publication types

Keywords

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.