Efficacy and safety of semaglutide for obesity and hyperphagia in adults with Prader-Willi syndrome
Abstract
Context: Prader-Willi syndrome is a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by hyperphagia and early-onset obesity from hypothalamic dysfunction with endocrinopathies and learning disability. Management is challenging with strict control of the food environment needed. While newer glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, such as semaglutide, have efficacy in non-PWS obesity, there have been limited case reports in PWS.
Objective/design/setting: Retrospective, observational cohort of 12 adults with PWS and overweight/obesity treated with semaglutide at a UK academic hospital centre specialist clinic.
Patients: Mean ± SD age 28.3 ± 10.1 years, 83% female, BMI 46.6 ± 8.2kg/m², 75% type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Intervention: Median follow-up 17.2 months (range 8.7-36.1) with median semaglutide dose 2.4mg once weekly (1.0-2.4).
Results: There was no significant overall weight loss on semaglutide, but there was stabilisation of the weight gain prior to treatment over previous 12.4 months (7.6-23.0): post -3.1 ± 9.9% vs. pre +5.7 ± 5.6%: d -0.72, P = 0.037. There was a significant decrease in hyperphagia on semaglutide from Hyperphagia Questionnaire for Clinical Trials (n=11, -7.3 ± 6.1 (max 36), d -1.19, P = 0.003), having been stable before treatment. HbA1c improved in those with elevated baseline levels (n=6, -4.2 ± 4.9%, d -0.74, P = 0.13). Mild gastrointestinal side effects were seen in 25% but did not lead to discontinuation.
Conclusions: In this small open-label,…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 12 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- The Role of AMPK Activation for Cardioprotection in Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity
- Hypoglycemic medicines in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease: Pathophysiological links between AD and glucose metabolism
- Isorhamnetin Reduces Glucose Level, Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in High-Fat Diet/Streptozotocin Diabetic Mice Model
- Modulating Sirtuin Biology and Nicotinamide Adenine Diphosphate Metabolism in Cardiovascular Disease—From Bench to Bedside
- Characterization of the SGLT2 Interaction Network and Its Regulation by SGLT2 Inhibitors: A Bioinformatic Analysis
- Early Treatment with Empagliflozin and GABA Improves β-Cell Mass and Glucose Tolerance in Streptozotocin-Treated Mice
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.