Food-induced small bowel obstruction observed in a patient with inappropriate use of semaglutide

We herein report a case of food-induced small bowel obstruction (FIBO) while using a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP1-RA), trying to lose weight due to distorted body image. The patient was a 30-year-old woman who was not obese (height 158 cm, weight 50 kg). She started taking an oral semaglutide, a GLP1-RA, and it was soon switched to weekly subcutaneous semaglutide because of ineffectiveness. More than 6 months after titrating up to 1.0 mg, she got drunk and chomped on a lot of scallops sandwiched between sheets of kelp, so-called "kobujime" in Japan, and half a day later complained of abdominal pain. Based on a finding of computed tomography at our emergency department, she was suspected of having a bowel obstruction and underwent laparoscopic surgery, which resulted in a diagnosis of small bowel obstruction by kelp. FIBO is rare, but it can become very severe once it happens. Although we cannot prove the direct pathophysiological effects of GLP1-RAs on FIBO in this particular case, GLP1-RAs have been reported to be one of the underlying risks of bowel obstruction based on epidemiological and basic research evidence; still, it is under-recognized. For example, the package inserts in Japan do not mention intestinal obstruction. We hope that the present report will prove helpful in paying attention to GLP1-RAs as a factor in bowel obstruction, including FIBO.