Appendicitis After Initiation of Tirzepatide
Garrett Chan1, Mariam Ansar1, Marlena Klein1,2
1Department of Internal Medicine, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, New Jersey, USA.
Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity : Targets and Therapy
|February 5, 2025
Summary
Tirzepatide, a GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist, may be linked to appendicitis. A case report shows a patient developed appendicitis after starting Tirzepatide, with symptoms resolving after discontinuation.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Tirzepatide is a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist approved for type 2 diabetes and weight management.
- Known side effects include gastrointestinal issues like nausea and vomiting, with severe events such as pancreatitis and cholelithiasis.
- Delayed gastric emptying is a potential mechanism linking these agonists to gastrointestinal motility changes.
Observation:
- A 73-year-old female patient initiated Tirzepatide for type 2 diabetes.
- She developed acute appendicitis symptoms approximately one week after starting the medication, without other apparent risk factors.
- Clinical and imaging findings (CT scan) indicated appendicitis.
Findings:
- Discontinuation of Tirzepatide led to rapid symptom improvement and positive changes on CT imaging.
- The patient subsequently underwent an outpatient appendectomy.
- This case suggests a potential temporal association between Tirzepatide use and the development of appendicitis.
Implications:
- Appendicitis is not commonly reported as an adverse effect of GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists in clinical trials.
- This case highlights the need to consider appendicitis in patients presenting with relevant symptoms after initiating Tirzepatide.
- Further investigation into the association between Tirzepatide and appendicitis is warranted.
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