Zhong nan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Central South University. Medical sciencesJun 5, 2026

Sudden worsening of long-term liver failure linked to semaglutide: A case report and review

GLP-1 Therapies Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Jun 6, 2026

Abstract

A 47-year-old male developed acute-on-chronic liver failure after using semaglutide for three months.

Semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, is primarily used for type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Common side effects of semaglutide include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, while severe liver-related reactions are rare.
The patient had chronic hepatitis B and had not received antiviral treatment for over two years before starting semaglutide.
After three months of semaglutide therapy, the patient experienced severe liver dysfunction leading to jaundice, coagulopathy, and hepatic encephalopathy.
Drug-induced liver injury was identified as the main cause of the liver failure, resulting in the diagnosis of acute-on-chronic liver failure.
Post-treatment management included liver support measures, and the patient's liver function improved significantly after semaglutide was discontinued.

Simplified

Semaglutide is a long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA), primarily used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. Common adverse drug reactions (ADRs) include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation, whereas liver function-related ADRs are relatively rare. We report a rare and severe case of semaglutide-induced acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) in a 47-year-old male patient who was successfully treated. The patient was admitted to the Department of Infectious Disease at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University on December 1, 2023. He had a history of chronic hepatitis B and had discontinued antiviral therapy for more than two years without medical supervision. Due to weight loss requirements, he initiated subcutaneous semaglutide therapy. Approximately three months after treatment initiation, he developed severe liver dysfunction, which rapidly progressed to profound jaundice, coagulopathy, and hepatic encephalopathy. Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) was considered the primary precipitating factor of liver failure, and the final diagnosis was ACLF. Following confirmation of the diagnosis, semaglutide was discontinued, and comprehensive management, including hepatoprotective therapy, artificial liver support, plasma exchange, and liver transplantation, was implemented. The patient's clinical symptoms and liver function parameters improved significantly. This report describes the successful management of semaglutide-induced ACLF and reviews the relevant literature. For individuals with underlying chronic liver disease (e.g., chronic viral hepatitis), thorough baseline liver assessment should be performed prior to initiating semaglutide or similar agents. Close monitoring during treatment is essential to identify potential severe drug-induced liver injury at an early stage.

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Sudden worsening of long-term liver failure linked to semaglutide: A case report and review

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