Sidra Medicine, a member of Qatar Foundation, has published a peer-reviewed case report in Frontiers in Endocrinology detailing the successful treatment of severe acquired hypothalamic obesity (aHO) in a young child. The case is believed to be the youngest reported patient treated with Setmelanotide for the rare condition, which developed following a severe brain injury caused by infection during the neonatal period.

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Dr. Hajar Dauleh, Endocrinology Specialist at Sidra Medicine said: “Treatment started when the child was 22 months of age and introduced gradually with close monitoring. The child’s excessive hunger improved rapidly, followed by stabilization and reduction in weight. We also observed improvements in liver function, cholesterol levels, sleep apnea, mobility, and overall engagement. These improvements became even more pronounced as treatment was carefully optimized over time.”

Led by Professor Khalid Hussain, Senior Consultant in Pediatric Endocrinology, the multidisciplinary team used a precision medicine approach to target the biological mechanisms driving excessive hunger and rapid weight gain. Treatment with Setmelanotide, an MC4R agonist, resulted in significant improvements in appetite control, weight management, liver function, cholesterol levels, sleep apnea, mobility, and overall quality of life.

The findings highlight the potential of targeted therapies in managing rare pediatric endocrine disorders and reinforce Sidra Medicine’s commitment to advancing innovative, patient-centered care through research and clinical excellence.

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