New “unusual” side effects of weight loss drugs are becoming increasingly common, a study suggests.
Weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy have become popular. About 1 in 8 American adults said they had taken GLP-1 drugs, which are used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. vote Published in May 2024.
But like any other drug, it has side effects, including newly discovered drugs that can interfere with medical imaging.
Researchers from Alliance Medical, a European imaging services provider, reviewed oncology FDG PET-CT scans of patients taking GLP-1 drugs.
With an FDG PET scan, patients receive an IV injection of a radioactive tracer called fluorodeoxyglucose. Diseased cells in a patient’s body absorb more radiotracer than healthy cells, and PET scanners are said to detect these “hot spots.” cleveland clinic. Health care providers can perform a PET scan and a CT scan, which uses X-rays, simultaneously to create more accurate 3D images.
Alliance Medical researchers discovered several abnormal patterns of FDG uptake in patients taking GLP-1 drugs, according to a presentation presented at the September annual meeting of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine. Failure to take into account the patient’s medication history may lead doctors to misinterpret these unusual patterns.
“We discovered an unusual uptake of a GLP-1 agonist in one of our patients, which prompted a broader review across our network,” said Dr. Peter Strouhal, medical director at Alliance Medical. American Association for the Advancement of Science.
“We are finding that these altered patterns are becoming increasingly common, but there is currently no national or international guidance in the UK that addresses this new issue.”
Misinterpreting a patient’s scans can lead to unnecessary testing, inaccurate cancer staging, and treatment delays.
“Recognizing the characteristic uptake associated with GLP-1 agonists can help avoid unnecessary anxiety and intervention and ensure patients receive the right treatment at the right time without diversion or suspicion,” added Dr. Strouhal.
To avoid these misunderstandings, the researchers advise that imaging specialists carefully record the patient’s medication history.
