Researchers have uncovered surprising new side effects related to: GLP-1 agonistOzempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, etc.
these popular diabetes treatment Obesity can also interfere with medical imaging procedures such as PET and CT (“CAT”) scans.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, CT scans are often used to obtain detailed internal images to detect lesions, tumors, and other abnormalities. Common uses for PET scans are to examine organs and tissues, detect cancer activity, and monitor the body’s response to treatment.
Dangerous ‘gray market’ weight loss drugs flood us, experts warn of risks
In a case review presented this week at the 38th Annual Meeting of the European Society of Nuclear Medicine in Barcelona, Spain, researchers analyzed: cancer scan Percent of patients taking GLP-1 drugs, according to a press release.
They found some “abnormal” scan results that could be mistaken for signs of illness.
“We noticed that one of our patients was unusually uptake of a GLP-1 agonist, which prompted a broader review across our network,” lead author Dr. Peter Strawhall, medical director at Alliance Medical in the UK, said in the release.
“While we have found that these altered patterns are becoming increasingly common, there is currently no national or international guidance in the UK to address this emerging issue.”
Misinterpreting these scan results can lead to additional tests, inaccurate cancer assessments, and delays in treatment. stress and anxiety For patients, the release states.
“Knowing how GLP-1 drugs affect scan images allows physicians to avoid confusion and unnecessary procedures, and allows patients to receive appropriate treatment quickly and with confidence,” Strohhall said.
Despite these findings, the researchers said they did not recommend that patients stop taking GLP-1 before undergoing a scan, but stressed that image team The patient’s medication use must be considered when interpreting scan results.
Looking forward, the research team plans to collect even more data from imaging centers around the world to strengthen these findings.
Dr. Sue DeCotis, a weight loss physician in New York City, noted that the study results are still very preliminary.
“They just noticed an increase, they didn’t mention which organs or specific body parts,” Decotis, who was not involved in the study, told FOX News Digital.
“It will be important to see more data from more patients to understand exactly what they saw. Our industry will keep an eye on this, but we need more information.”
Dr. Adam Wolfberg, chief medical officer of Virta Health in Massachusetts, also reflected on the study.
Click here to sign up for our health newsletter
“GLP-1 has many effects on the body, one of which is to change the way glucose is metabolized,” Wolfberg, who was also not involved in the study, told FOX News Digital. “The tracer agent used in these PET scans contains glucose, so uptake of the tracer agent, a type of metabolic ‘pigment’, may be affected. ”
“Knowledge of this clinical background is required for the interpretation of the corresponding images.”
But he reiterated that he doesn’t think the discovery is “a big deal.”
“PET scans are always interpreted in the context of the whole patient,” Wolfberg said. “Skilled oncologists and radiologists always take into account a patient’s medical history and medications they are taking when reading these types of scans.”
For more health articles, visit: www.foxnews.com/health
Wolfberg agreed that more data is needed before these observations can influence medical practice.
Fox News Digital has reached out to researchers and manufacturers of GLP-1 drugs for comment.
