Semaglutide-Induced Lupus Erythematosus With Multiorgan Involvement

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.