A Randomized Double Blinded Placebo-Controlled Trial of Semaglutide to Prevent Weight Gain Following Liver Transplantation
In this study, semaglutide will be compared to placebo (a look-alike inactive substance, a sugar pill) to determine if its use will prevent weight gain after liver transplantation (LT). In addition, researchers will be testing to determine if semaglutide prevents the development of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) after transplant through Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and laboratory results.
• Male or female age 18-75 years who received LT for any indication (i.e. NASH, hepatitis C, alcohol-induced cirrhosis, autoimmune hepatitis, etc.)
• Liver transplant surgery within 8-24 weeks prior to randomization
• Fasting glucose \> 125 mg/dL or presence of diabetes (HbA1c≥6.5% or use of diabetes medications) or pre-diabetes (HbA1c \>5.7%)
• Ability to provide informed consent
• Discharged from the hospital following LT surgery
• Tolerating diet
• Normal graft function\* (determined by treating hepatologist/surgeon based on clinical status and hepatic panel)
• Stable immunosuppression according the VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University) post-LT protocols \*\* (i.e. calcineurin inhibitors + mycophenolate)
• Eligible female patients will be (1) non-pregnant, evidenced by a negative urine pregnancy test, (2) non-lactating, (3)surgically sterile or post-menopausal, or they will agree to continue to use an accepted method of birth control during the study