FDA Approval of Semiglutide for Obesity & AGA Recommends Intragastric Balloons for Adults with Obesity

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June 4, 2021: FDA Approves New Drug Treatment for Chronic Weight Management, First Since 2014

“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Wegovy (semaglutide) injection (2.4 mg once weekly) for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition (such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol), for use in addition to a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity…The drug is indicated for chronic weight management in patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 kg/m2 or greater who have at least one weight-related ailment or in patients with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or greater… The largest placebo-controlled trial enrolled adults without diabetes. Individuals who received Wegovy lost an average of 12.4% of their initial body weight compared to individuals who received placebo” 

T Muniraj et al. Gastroenterol 2021; 160-1799-1808. Full text: AGA Clinical Practice Guidelines on Intragastric Balloons in the Management of Obesity

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How Important is Your Microbiome for Weight Loss?

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Briefly noted: Z Jie et al. Gastroenterol 2021; 160: 2029-2042. Full text PDF: The Baseline Gut Microbiota Directs Dieting-Induced Weight Loss Trajectories

METHODS: A 6-month weight-reduction program with longitudinal collection of dietary, physical activity, body weight, and fecal microbiome data as well as single-nucleotide polymorphism genotypes in 83 participants was conducted, followed by integration of the high-dimensional data to define the most determining factors for weight loss in a dietician-guided, smartphone-assisted dieting program

Key findings:

  • 9 out of 83 subjects achieved long-term weight loss.
  • The baseline gut microbiota was found to outperform other factors as a predicting predictor of individual weight loss trajectories
  • Blautia wexlerae (MGS0575) and Bacteroides dorei (MGS0187) were the strongest predictors for weight loss when present in high abundance at baseline.
  • The microbiome features were more predictive of weight loss than diet, physical activity, and obesity-related host genotype (based on single-nucleotide polymorphism genotypes)

In the associated editorial by RA Reimer et al (pg 1933-1935, full text: Dieting for Success: What Baseline Gut Microbiota Can Tell You About Your Chances of Losing Weight), the authors state that this study supports considering the gut microbiome “as a key component of individual response to dietary interventions.

My take: Much more work is needed in this area to tease out confounding variables (like baseline diet). It is intriguing that our gut microbiome could be instrumental in diet success and perhaps many other characteristics (eg. mental health, longevity, and susceptibility to diseases).

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Also NPR article (6/17/21): Bariatric Surgery Works, But Isn’t Offered To Most Teens Who Have Severe Obesity (at website, can also click link for 7 minute audio)

“Widely covered paper on ranitidine-cancer link retracted”

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Retraction Watch: Widely covered paper on ranitidine-cancer link retracted Thanks to Bryan Vartabedian’s twitter feed for this reference.

An excerpt:

“A paper linking the use of a wildly popular drug for heartburn to cancer has been retracted after the authors concluded that their widely touted finding appears to have resulted from a hiccup in the way they conducted their testing. 

The 2016 article, in Carcinogenesis, has played a minor role in an ongoing class action lawsuit against the makers of ranitidine (sold as Zantac, among other brand names) claiming that use of the medication has caused cancer in more than 100,000 plaintiffs. And it was a key citation in a 2019 petition to the FDA urging that such drugs be recalled….

[From one of the authors of the retracted study] As far as I know, the detections of NDMA in ranitidine tablets remain an issue (detections by LC/MS, which should not be affected by this artefact).

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Disclaimer: This blog, gutsandgrowth, assumes no responsibility for any use or operation of any method, product, instruction, concept or idea contained in the material herein or for any injury or damage to persons or property (whether products liability, negligence or otherwise) resulting from such use or operation. These blog posts are for educational purposes only. Specific dosing of medications (along with potential adverse effects) should be confirmed by prescribing physician.  Because of rapid advances in the medical sciences, the gutsandgrowth blog cautions that independent verification should be made of diagnosis and drug dosages. The reader is solely responsible for the conduct of any suggested test or procedure.  This content is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a condition

Sunset at Islamorada, FL
Study: No Increased Cancer Risk with Ranitidine

Long-term Safety of Fecal Microbiota Transplantations

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S Saha et al. Gastroenterol 2021; 160: 1961-1969. Full text PDF: Long-term Safety of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection

In this prospective study (2012-2018) with 609 patients (median age 56 years), the authors studied long-term outcomes. Key findings:

  • At 1 year, 9.5% reported additional CDI episodes. Diarrhea occured in more than half of all patients, although it lasted for than a week in most patients.
  • Among 477 with long-term data, 188 patients post-FMT developed new medical conditions/symptoms.
  • Weight gain was reported by 46 patients (10.3%) post-FMT. In these patients, the median weight gained was 30 pounds (range, 10–70). Of these patients, 11 (23%) had
    preexisting obesity.
  • Approximately 3% of patients each reported new-onset diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia,
    whereas 2.3% reported thyroid disease.
  • Gastrointestinal symptoms were the second most frequently reported (13.4%). New-onset IBS was reported by 4%, IBD by 0.3%, chronic diarrhea by 5.0%, and chronic constipation by 1.6% of patients.
  • Serious infections were reported by 11.8% of patients: CDI in 5.7%, Pneumonia in 4.5%, UTI in 1.8% and Sepsis in 1.2%. Median time to the infections was 29 months (range, 0–73) following FMT; only 1 patient reported an infection (CDI) within the first month after FMT.
  • No deaths were considered related to FMT
  • Limitation: no control group

My take (borrowed from authors): “FMT appears safe and effective, both in the
short-term and long-term. Several new medical conditions were reported post-FMT, in particular, weight gain and IBS.”

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How PPIs Improve Functional Dyspepsia

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L Wauters et al. Gastroenterol 2021; 160: 1521-1531. Proton Pump Inhibitors Reduce Duodenal Eosinophilia, Mast Cells, and Permeability in Patients With Functional Dyspepsia

In this single-center prospective study, the authors show that pantoprazole (40 mg daily for 4 weeks) improves symptoms and duodenal eosinophilia in adults with functional dyspepsia (FD).

Key finding:

  • Symptoms and duodenal eosinophils, mast cells (all, P < .0001), and paracellular passage (P = .02) were significantly higher in FD-starters (patients new to PPI treatment) vs HVs and reduced with PPI therapy.
  • The authors note that systemic inflammation, subjective stress and salivary cortisol were also higher in patients with FD vs controls (off PPI).

My take: This study indicates that improvement in symptoms in FD related to PPIs is likely often due to improvement in duodenal mucosal inflammation and barrier dysfunction rather than by changing acidity.

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For the Next Insurance Appeal: Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Adalimumab Treatment (Pediatrics) & Satire on Prior Authorizations

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There is a lot of data supporting the use of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for anti-TNF agents. A recent study (MJ Kim et al. JPGN 2021; 72: 870-876. Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Adalimumab During Long-term Follow-up in Paediatric Patients With Crohn Disease) adds to this data and supports increased adalimumab (ADL) dosing if below target values.

In this prospective study of 31 pediatric patients with Crohn’s disease, the authors found correlations between ADL values and the endpoints of clinical remission (CR) and mucosal healing (MH). The authors checked TLs at 4 months, 1, 2, and 3 years. Key findings:

  • The median trough levels (TLs) of ADL were higher in patients in CR (7.6 ± 3.5 μg/mL) than in patients with active disease (5.1 ± 2.2 μg/mL).
  • ADL TLs were significantly higher in patients who achieved MH than in those who did not (14.2 ± 7.6 vs 7.8 ± 5.2 μg/mL). 
  • The optimal cut-point for predicting MH at 1 year of ADL treatment was 8.18 μg/mL
  • MH was noted in 42% at 4 months and 55% at 1 yr; CR was noted in 90% at 4 months and 84% at 1 yr. ADL treatment was associated with positive effects on growth indicators as well.

The authors discuss TDM for anti-TNF therapy, noting that for infliximab, the AGA recommends values >5 mcg/mL and the ACG >7.5 mcg/mL. There are fewer studies of ADL TDM -prior studies have indicated goals of >5.8, >7.1, >8, and >8.1; thus, this study is in agreement with these prior studies.

My take: This study further supports the value of TDM; better drug levels correlate with better outcomes.

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Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas. The fort has reportedly 16 million bricks (I didn’t confirm this figure).

More satire —On Prior Authorizations:

Liver Shorts: Stopping immunosuppression after transplant, toxicity of acetaminophen at therapeutic dosing, best imaging of PSC

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S Feng et al. Hepatology 2021; 73: 1985-2004. Efficacy and Safety of Immunosuppression Withdrawal in Pediatric Liver Transplant Recipients: Moving Toward Personalized Management. iWITH study found that in highly-selected patients (n=88), immunosuppression could be withdrawn in 38%. Criteria included consistently normal liver biochemistries, >4 years after transplantation, and transplants unrelated to autoimmune etiologies or HBV/HCV.

A Louvet et al. Hepatology 2021; 73: 1945-1955. Acute Liver Injury With Therapeutic Doses of Acetaminophen: A Prospective Study This prospective study (2002-2019) showed that 89 of 400 adult patients with acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury (ALI) had received therapeutic doses of acetaminophen (<6 g). Especially in individuals with underlying alcoholic liver disease or fasting, acetaminophen (more than 2 gm/day) can trigger liver injury.

JE Eaton et al. Hepatology 2021; 73: 1868-1881. Early Cholangiocarcinoma Detection With Magnetic Resonance Imaging Versus Ultrasound in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis This multicenter retrospective study showed that MRI is superior to ultrasound for the detection of early-stage CCA in patients with PSC. Identification of CCA before the onset of symptoms with MRI is associated with improved outcomes. The authors note that individuals diagnosed with CCA while asymptomatic had a 36% reduction in 5-year mortality and that MRI allowed for a 77% reduction in 5-year mortality among asymptomatic persons. One important limitation of this study would be lead-time bias; that is, those with disease detected at an earlier stage will live longer than those detected at a later stage and thus earlier diagnosis may be ascribed as conferring a greater longevity even with no intervention.

Long-Term Outcomes in Children with Choledochal Malformations

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I Hyvarinen et al JPGN 2021; 72: 820-825. Long-term Morbidity of Choledochal Malformations in Children

This single-center retrospective study (n=55 median f/u 6 years) provides data on long-term morbidity of choledochal malformations. Key findings:

  • 21% had long-term complications including cholangitis in 9 (>2 episodes in 5) patients, anastomotic stricture in 2, adhesive volvulus in 1 and hepatocellular carcinoma in 1. 
  • Magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRCP) performed 6.4 (3.6–16) years after hepaticojejunostomy, diameters of both main intrahepatic ducts had decreased significantly to 3.0 (2.5–3.5) mm (P = 0.0001) but a distal cyst stump was remaining in 30% with a length of 6.0 (4.0–20) mm

My take: Despite surgical management (hepaticojejunostomy), biliary tract malignancy is still possible in patients with choledochal cysts. Regular CA 19-9 testing is probably worthwhile, especially in teens and older. The authors note that in patients with type 1 choledochal malformations, some have recommended annual liver biochemistries and ultrasonography following successful surgery (J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019; 34: 966-974).

Figure from JPGNonline twitter feed:

Identifying BAD (bile acid diarrhea) in IBS-D

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BC Beinvogl et al. JPGN 2021; 72: 859-865. Markers of Bile Acid Metabolism in Pediatric Diarrhea Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Healthy Controls

Background: Up to ~30% of adults with IBS-D may have bile acid diarrhea (BAD); however, identification has been hampered by cumbersome testing. In the U.S., the most reliable test has been a 48-hr fecal bile acid (FBA) level of >2337 micromol/48 h. Alternatively, blood tests have been used:

  1. 7alpha-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one (C4)–a direct measure of BA production
  2. Fibroblast growth factor-19 (FGF-19)–an indirect measure of ileal BA resorption

This prospective cross-sectional study of adolescents (n=26 and 56 healthy controls) examined these blood tests and 48-h FBA . Key findings:

  • 20% of IBS-D patients had elevated C4 levels based on 90% of serum C4 in healthy controls (HC). Mean value in HC was 12 and mean value in IBS-D was 16; 90th% was 22 in HC.
  • 28% had decreased fasting serum FGF-19 based on 10% of HC. Mean value in HC was 128 pg/mL compared with 93 in IBS-D; 10th% was 45 in HC.
  • There was good correlation between C4 and 48-h FBA and there was an inverse relationship between serum C4 and FGF-19. Mean value for 48-h FBA in HC was 490 micromol/48 h compared with 824 in IBS-D; 90th% was 972 in HC.

The authors argue that a definitive diagnosis of BAD is beneficial compared to empiric use of bile acid sequestrants. They point to studies showing that treatment is more effective in those with known BAD, up to 75% response rate. In addition, the use of empiric treatment “has not been validated as a diagnostic test for BAD.” Furthermore, definitive diagnosis would help with adherence to long-term treatment and avoid drug interactions/side effects in those who are unlikely to respond to treatment.

My take: This study shows that C4 could help identify BAD in IBS-D in adolescents and is in agreement with studies in adults (Mayo Clinic labs does run this test: Mayo Clinic: 7AC4, Bile Acid Synthesis, Serum).

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Below is a sign from the broadwalk in Hollywood, FL. Watch out if you are eating something!