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Acute Kidney Injury after Dose-Titration of Liraglutide in an Obese Patient

Archives of Obesity and Metabolism / Archives of Obesity and Metabolism, (P)2951-0333; (E)2951-0597
2022, v.1 no.2, pp.78-82
https://doi.org/10.23137/AOM22.02.CR0004
Hee Jin Lee (Department of Family Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea)
Hye Soon Park (Department of Family Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea)
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Abstract

Liraglutide (SaxendaR) is prescribed to induce and sustain weight loss in obese patients. The starting dose of liraglutide is 0.6 mg/day for 1 week, which is increased by 0.6 mg/day every week until the full maintenance dose of 3 mg/day is achieved.Such dose titration is needed to prevent side effects, which primarily include gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, dyspepsia, and abdominal pain. A 35-year-old, reportedly healthy obese man receiving liraglutidetreatment for obesity visited the emergency room complaining of generalized weakness and dizziness accompanied by repeated diarrhea and vomiting. He reported over 20 episodes of diarrhea starting the day after liraglutide dose escalation from 1.2 mg/day to 1.8 mg/day. Laboratory findings suggested pre-renal acute kidney injury, including serum creatinine 4.77 mg/dl, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 37 mg/dl, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 15 ml/min/1.73 m2, and Fractional excretion of sodium 0.08. After volume repletion therapy, his renal function recovered to a normal range with laboratory values of creatinine 1.08 mg/dl, BUN 14 mg/dl, and eGFR 88ml/min/1.73 m2. This case emphasizes the need for caution when prescribing glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, including liraglutide, given the risk of serious renal impairments induced by volume depletion and dehydration through severegrade diarrhea and vomiting.

keywords
Obesity, Liraglutide, Side effects, Acute kidney injury

Archives of Obesity and Metabolism