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Case report highlights benz glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and corticosteroids causing pneumatosis intestinalis, suggesting recognition is vital.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), widely prescribed for diabetes and weight loss, are well-known for their side effects. We present a case report of elderly, medically complex patient on a GLP-1RA and prednisone therapy who presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain and the radiographic finding of pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) but was found to have healthy bowel on exploratory laparotomy. This case is the second report of PI in a patient taking a GLP-1RA. It highlights the importance for clinicians to recognize non-emergent causes of PI—including the potential contributory role of corticosteroids, particularly in patients with multiple comorbidities to avoid unnecessary surgical intervention.
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Sutton et al. (2026) studied this question.
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