RF28 | PSUN182 Risk of Pancreatitis After Glp-1 Receptor Agonist in Individuals With Known History of Pancreatitis
Authors: Kodali Alimitha M , Pantalone Kevin M , Tsushima Yumiko 
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Randomized clinical trials identified a small increased risk of acute pancreatitis in patients using glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP1- RA) therapy. As a result, GLP-1RA therapy is generally avoided in patients with a history of acute pancreatitis. The aim of this report was to evaluate the real-world experience of GLP-1RA therapy in patients with a history of acute pancreatitis.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted (2010-2019) using the enterprise-wide electronic health record (EHR) system. Patients with a history of acute pancreatitis and a subsequent encounter diagnosis of acute pancreatitis (ICD-9/ ICD-10 codes), after exposure to GLP-1R, were identified. Exposure to GLP-1RA was defined as a documented prescription for GLP-1RA in the EHR. Patients were followed until the date of recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP) or censoring. Categorical and continuous variables were summarized using N (%) and mean (SD), respectively.

Results

A total of 161 patients were identified, 50.9% were female, 56.6% Caucasian, with mean age (years) 54 (±13) and mean BMI 35 kg/m2 (±8). Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and obesity were present in 92.5% (N=149), 86.3% (N=139), and 73.9% (N=119), respectively. The mean duration of follow-up for all patients was 28.2 months (±24.6). The etiologies of the first documented episode of pancreatitis prior to GLP-1RA exposure were gall stones (N=49, 30.4%), alcoholism (N=21, 13%), hypertriglyceridemia (N=9, 5.6%), medication-induced N=5 (3.1%), and the remaining cases (N=77, 47.8%) were classified as idiopathic. Among these 161 patients, N=16 (9.9%) had a second episode of pancreatitis after GLP1-RA exposure. The mean duration of exposure to GLP-1RA prior to RAP was 10.8 months (±7.2). RAP was attributed to GLP 1-RA exposure N=6 (37.5%), alcohol intake N=2 (12.5%), hypertriglyceridemia N=3 (18.8%), oral hypoglycemic agent N=1 (6.2%), ampulla stenosis N=1 (6.2%), and the remaining N=3 (18.8%) were considered idiopathic.

Conclusions

Among 161 patients with a history of acute pancreatitis exposed to GLP-1RA, a total of 16 (9.9%) cases of RAP were identified, but only N=6 (4%) of these were determined attributable to GLP-1RA exposure. The overall rate of RAP among our cohort of GLP-1RA exposed patients (9.9%) is similar to the overall rate of RAP reported in the literature (12.7%), regardless of the underlying etiology or drug exposure.1 Acute pancreatitis related to drug exposure is a diagnosis of exclusion; thus, it is certainly possible that some of the cases in our report considered idiopathic were actually related to GLP-1RA exposure. While caution needs to be exercised, our data would support the use of GLP-1RA in patients with a history of acute pancreatitis, on an individualized basis, where the benefits are considered to outweigh the risks.

References

1) Mallick et al. Differences between the outcome of recurrent acute pancreatitis and acute pancreatitis. JGH Open. 2018 Jun 6;2(4): 134-138.

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