How did an albino patient lose 148 lbs of weight? A case report

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a highly prevalent and yet the most neglected disease. The number of overweight and obese people reached 2.3 billion and 700 million worldwide respectively, by year 2015. Obesity is not a social... [ view full abstract ]

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a highly prevalent and yet the most neglected disease. The number of overweight and obese people reached 2.3 billion and 700 million worldwide respectively, by year 2015. Obesity is not a social disgrace but an actual disease with a major genetic component to its etiology. We hereby present the case of a morbidly obese male patient with occulocutaneous albinism who has lost 148 lbs of weight. Furthermore, the report highlights the genetic link between occulocutaneous albinism and obesity.
CASE PRESENTATION: 28-year-old male with occulocutaneous albinism presented with 361.8 lbs of weight (BMI: 62.1) and complaint of difficulty in losing weight. Lab investigations showed hyperlipidemia and hypotestosteronemia. The patient was prescribed Xenical (Orlistat) 120mg. Over the period of five years, he lost 83.8 lbs. After this time, Xenical’s effectiveness was significantly reduced. Consequently, the patient was started on Victoza (Liraglutide) on which he lost 64 lbs in three years. Thus, a sum of 147.8 lbs were lost without any side effects of the drugs.
DISCUSSION: Obesity needs to be treated as any other complex disease. We observed Xenical and Victoza to be safe and effective in reducing obesity. Substantial literature has shown that in both Occulocutaneous albinism and Prader-Willi syndrome, the P gene is mutated on Chromosome 15.
CONCLUSION: Obesity develops from the interplay of both genetic and environmental factors. Xenical and Victoza can be safe and efficient for weight loss in morbid obesity. Scientific research in genetics of obesity can help develop new strategies towards its prevention.