Tirzepatide may cause rare but serious air pockets in the intestines

Tirzepatide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist, may be associated with rare cases of pneumatosis intestinalis.

• Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists improve glycemic control and promote weight loss in type 2 diabetes and obesity.
• Common gastrointestinal side effects of these medications include nausea, vomiting, constipation, and delayed gastric emptying.
• Pneumatosis intestinalis, a condition characterized by gas-filled cysts in the intestinal wall, has been rarely reported with this medication class.
• This report provides the first documented histologic evidence of a potential link between tirzepatide and pneumatosis intestinalis.

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