Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome in Children and Adults: What Is New in 2018?

Autonomic assessment at the intersection of psychosocial and gastrointestinal health

BACKGROUND

Wearable technology is increasingly used in clinical practice and research to monitor functional gastrointestinal symptoms and mental health.

AIMS

This article explores the potential of wearable sensors to enhance the understanding of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), particularly its role in linking psychological and gastrointestinal function. The ANS, facilitates brain-gut communication and is responsive to psychosocial conditions. It is implicated in disorders related to psychological stress and gut-brain interaction. Wearable technology enables tracking of the ANS in daily life, offering complementary and alternative methods from traditional lab-based measures. This review places focus on autonomic metrics such as respiratory sinus arrhythmia, vagal efficiency, and electrodermal activity as well as self-reports of autonomic symptoms.

DISCUSSION

Potential applications include use of wearable sensors for tracking autonomic activity in disorder of gut-brain interaction such as cyclic vomiting syndrome, in which ANS dysregulation may be triggered by psychosocial factors. Considerations for data interpretation and contextualization are addressed, acknowledging challenges such as situational confounders of ANS activity and accuracy of wearable devices.

Development of a Digital Patient Assistant for the Management of Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome: Patient-Centric Design Study

BACKGROUND

Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) is an enigmatic and debilitating disorder of gut-brain interaction that is characterized by recurrent episodes of severe vomiting and nausea. It significantly impairs patients' quality of life and can lead to frequent medical visits and substantial health care costs. The diagnosis for CVS is often protracted and complex, primarily due to its exclusionary diagnosis nature and the lack of specific biomarkers. This typically leads to a considerable delay in accurate diagnosis, contributing to increased patient morbidity. Additionally, the absence of approved therapies for CVS worsens patient hardship and reflects the urgent need for innovative, patient-centric solutions to improve CVS management.

OBJECTIVE

We aim to develop a digital patient assistant (DPA) for patients with CVS to address their unique needs, and iteratively enhance the technical features and user experience on the initial DPA versions.

METHODS

The development of the DPA for CVS used a design thinking approach, prioritizing user needs. A literature review and Patient Advisory Board shaped the initial prototype, focusing on diagnostic support and symptom tracking. Iterative development, informed by the design thinking approach and feedback from patients with CVS and caregivers through interviews and smartphone testing, led to significant enhancements in user interaction and artificial intelligence integration. The final DPA's effectiveness was validated using the System Usability Scale and feedback questions, ensuring it met the specific needs of the CVS community.

RESULTS

The DPA developed for CVS integrates an introductory bot, daily and weekly check-in bots, and a knowledge hub, all accessible via a patient dashboard. This multicomponent solution effectively addresses key unmet needs in CVS management: efficient symptom and impacts tracking, access to comprehensive disease information, and a digital health platform for disease management. Significant improvements, based on user feedback, include the implementation of artificial intelligence features like intent recognition and data syncing, enhancing the bot interaction and reducing the burden on patients. The inclusion of the knowledge hub provides educational resources, contributing to better disease understanding and management. The DPA achieved a System Usability Scale score of 80 out of 100, indicating high ease of use and relevance. Patient feedback highlighted the DPA's potential in disease management and suggested further applications, such as integration into health care provider recommendations for patients with suspected or confirmed CVS. This positive response underscores the DPA's role in enhancing patient engagement and disease management through a patient-centered digital solution.

CONCLUSIONS

The development of this DPA for patients with CVS, via an iterative design thinking approach, offers a patient-centric solution for disease management. The DPA development framework may also serve to guide future patient digital support and research scenarios.

Difference in Cyclic Versus Non-cyclic Symptom Patterns in Patients with the Symptoms of Gastroparesis Undergoing Bioelectric Therapy

INTRODUCTION

Patients with gastroparesis (Gp) have symptoms with or without a cyclic pattern. This retrospective study evaluates differences in cyclic vs. non-cyclic symptoms of Gp by analyzing mucosal electrogastrogram (mEG), familial dysautonomias, and response to gastric stimulation.

METHODS

37 patients with drug refractory Gp, 7 male and 30 female, with a mean age of 41.4 years, were studied. 18 had diabetes mellitus, 25 had cyclic (Cyc), and 12 had a non-cyclic (NoCyc) pattern of symptoms. Patients underwent temporary mucosal gastric stimulator (tGES) placement, which was done as a trial before permanent stimulator (GES) placement. Electrogastrogram (EGG) by mucosal (mEG) measures, including frequency, amplitude, and frequency-amplitude ratio (FAR), were pre- and post-tGES. Patients' history of personal and familial dysautonomias, quality of life, and symptom scores were recorded. Baseline vs. follow-ups were compared by paired t tests and McNemar's tests. T tests contrasted symptom scores, gastric emptying tests (GET), and mEG measures, while chi-squared tests deciphered comorbidity differences between two groups and univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

There were significantly more patients with diabetes in the Cyc group vs. the NoCyc group. Using a 1 point in symptom outcome, 18 patients did not improve and 19 did improve with tGES. Using univariable analysis, with the cyclic pattern as a predictor, patients exhibiting a cyclic pattern had an odds ratio of 0.22 (95% CI 0.05-0.81, p = 0.054) for achieving an improvement of at least one unit in vomiting at follow-up from baseline. The mucosal electrogastrogram frequency to amplitude ratio (FAR) for the "not Improved" group was 19.6 [3.5, 33.6], whereas, for the "Improved" group, it was 54.3 [25.6, 72.5] with a p-value of 0.049. For multivariate logistic regression, accounting for sex and age squared, patients exhibiting a cyclic pattern had an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 0.16 (95% CI 0.03-0.81, p = 0.027) for achieving an improvement of at least one unit in vomiting at follow-up from baseline. The two groups had no significant differences in the personal or inherited history of investigated familial patterns.

CONCLUSION

This study shows differences in Gp patients with Cyc vs. NoCyc symptoms in several areas. Larger studies are needed to elicit further differences between the two groups about cycles of symptoms, EGG, findings, familial patterns, and response to mucosal GES.

Association of Anxiety and Gastrointestinal Comorbidities in Repeat Hospital Admissions in Pediatric Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome

INTRODUCTION

Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder with recurrent episodes of intense nausea and vomiting and thus may require frequent hospitalizations. There is paucity of data exploring the association of psychiatric and gastrointestinal comorbidities in repeat hospitalizations among pediatric patients with CVS.

METHODS

We analyzed the Pediatric Health Information System database and included all patients up to 18 years of age with a diagnosis of CVS between 2016 and 2020. We excluded patients with chronic conditions, which mimic CVS. The primary outcome variable was 90-day admission rate, which was defined as a visit to emergency department or admission to observation/inpatient unit with a primary diagnosis of CVS within 90 days after an index CVS hospitalization.

RESULTS

We evaluated a total of 2,604 hospitalizations represented by 1,370 unique individuals. The overall 90-day admission rate was 28.5%, which steadily decreased from 35.7% in 2016 to 23% in 2019 ( P < 0.001). Patients in the repeat hospitalization cohort were slightly older and more often men. Patients with repeat admissions had an increased proportion of anxiety and other gastrointestinal disorders. Multivariable logistic regression showed that anxiety, gastroesophageal reflux disease, functional dyspepsia, and abdominal migraine were associated with increased odds of repeat admissions.

DISCUSSION

Ninety-day admission rates in pediatric CVS are decreasing overall, although still contributing to significant healthcare expenditure. Anxiety and gastrointestinal comorbidities were associated with increased risk of repeat admissions. Further prospective studies are needed to better understand the complex interactions of these comorbidities and their management affecting the natural course of CVS.

Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome and Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome: The State of the Science

This article provides a narrative review of the state of the science for both cyclic vomiting syndrome and cannabis hyperemesis syndrome along with a discussion of the relationship between these 2 conditions. The scope of this review includes the historical context of these conditions as well as the prevalence, diagnostic criteria, pathogenesis, and treatment strategies for both conditions. A synopsis of the endocannabinoid system provides a basis for the hypothesis that a lack of cannabidiol in modern high-potency Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol cannabis may be contributory to cannabis hyperemesis syndrome and possibly other cannabis use disorders. In concluding assessment, though the publications addressing both adult cyclic vomiting syndrome and cannabis hyperemesis syndrome are steadily increasing overall, the state of the science supporting the treatments, prognosis, etiology, and confounding factors (including cannabis use) is of moderate quality. Much of the literature portrays these conditions separately and as such sometimes fails to account for the confounding of adult cyclic vomiting syndrome with cannabis hyperemesis syndrome. The diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are, at present, based generally on case series publications and expert opinion, with a very limited number of randomized controlled trials and a complete absence of Level 1 evidence within the cyclic vomiting literature overall as well as for cannabis hyperemesis syndrome specifically.

Clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes in patients with cyclic vomiting syndrome: A 15-year experience at a tertiary referral center

BACKGROUND

Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) is a disorder of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) characterized by recurrent episodes of nausea and vomiting. Most children outgrow their CVS symptoms and develop migraine headaches, but there are limited data in adults. We thus sought to determine the natural history of CVS in adults.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients at a specialized tertiary care clinic. Frequency of CVS episodes, emergency department (ED) visits, and hospitalizations were recorded at the index visit and at follow-up.

KEY RESULTS

Of 455 CVS patients with complete data, mean age was 33 ± 13 years, 294 (65%) were female, and 392 (86%) were Caucasian. Mean duration of follow-up was 47.4 ± 37.2 months. There was a significant reduction in frequency of CVS episodes/year (18 to 6.8), ED visits (6.1 to 2), and hospitalizations (2.3 to 0.7) (all p-values < 0.001) but only 88 (19%) of patients had complete resolution of episodes at follow-up. On multivariable regression analysis, non-white race [0.33 (0.11-0.98) p = 0.01], comorbidity count [0.77 (0.62-0.95) p = 0.01], cannabis use [0.36 (0.2-0.65) p = 0.0007], and aprepitant use [0.2 (0.08-0.005) p < 0.001] were associated with a reduced odds of complete resolution of CVS episodes. Of note, 19 patients (4%) died.

CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES

While most adults with CVS improved with specialized care, in contrast to children, only a small subset (~1 in 5) had complete resolution of symptoms. Reasons for the effects of race, cannabis use, and comorbidity burden on outcomes in CVS are unclear and warrant further investigation.

Diagnosis and Management of Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome: A Critical Review

Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) is a chronic disorder of gut-brain interaction characterized by recurrent disabling episodes of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. CVS affects both children and adults with a prevalence of approximately 2% in the United States. CVS is more common in female individuals and affects all races. The pathophysiology of CVS is unknown and a combination of genetic, environmental, autonomic, and neurohormonal factors is believed to play a role. CVS is also closely associated with migraine headaches and likely have a shared pathophysiology. The diagnosis of CVS is based on the Rome criteria, and minimal recommended testing includes an upper endoscopy and imaging studies of the abdomen. CVS is frequently associated with anxiety, depression, and autonomic dysfunction. Patients with CVS commonly use cannabis therapeutically for symptom relief. By contrast, cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is believed to be a subset of CVS with chronic heavy cannabis use leading to hyperemesis. Due to the recalcitrant nature of the illness, patients often visit the emergency department and are hospitalized for acute CVS flares. Guidelines on the management of CVS recommend a biopsychosocial approach. Prophylactic therapy consists of tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline), antiepileptics (topiramate), and aprepitant in refractory patients. Abortive therapy consists of triptans, antiemetics (ondansetron), and sedation. Treatment of comorbid conditions is extremely important to improve overall patient outcomes. CVS has a significant negative impact on patients, families, and the healthcare system, and future research to understand its pathophysiology and develop targeted therapies is needed.

Prevalence and incidence of cyclic vomiting syndrome in Japan: A study using Japanese claims data

Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) is a gastrointestinal disorder that is characterized by recurrent episodes of vomiting. Previous studies have provided reliable data on the prevalence of CVS among children in Japan; however, neither prevalence data nor incidence of CVS is available for adults. Hence, we obtained detailed prevalence and incidence data for CVS and estimated the total number of CVS cases in Japan. This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using the JMDC (JMDC, Inc.; formerly known as Japan Medical Data Center Co., Ltd.,) database, which is a de-identified Japanese claims database. Individuals enrolled between January 2017 and December 2017 were included in this study. Longitudinal data for eligible populations were used to identify patients who displayed CVS symptoms throughout the follow-up period. Due to the lack of a specific diagnosis code for CVS in 2017, the Rome IV criteria were applied to identify CVS cases in the pediatric and adult populations. The prevalence was standardized to the 2017 Japanese census and extrapolated to estimate the number of CVS cases. A total of 2,093 patients with CVS were identified from 3,506,144 individuals. The overall age-and-sex-standardized prevalence was 0.32 per 1,000 population (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30-0.34), projected to approximately 49,000 patients with CVS across Japan. The pediatric age-and-sex-standardized prevalence was 2.10 per 1,000 population (95% CI: 2.01-2.19), and the adult prevalence was 0.05 per 1,000 population (95% CI: 0.04-0.06). Marked sex differences were observed before and after 12 years of age. Thus our study provides the first large-population-based estimates of CVS prevalence and incidence in Japan, and currently, the only estimates for adult CVS in Japan.

A Patient Diagnosed with Mosaic Trisomy 18 Presenting New Symptoms: Diaphragmatic Relaxation and Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome. Updated Review of Mosaic Trisomy 18 Cases

Although data on T18 are widespread, there is a lack of knowledge on mosaic trisomy 18 (mT18). A current review of mT18 symptomatology, long-term follow-up, and potential health risks is lacking for health care professionals. Our paper addresses these, emphasizing the importance of regular tumor screening as a key message for mT18 patient follow-up. We also present the case of a female patient with mT18 who presented with diaphragmatic relaxation and cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS), which had previously not been reported in this genetic condition. On further investigating the etiology of CVS, we revealed a novel mitochondrial mutation in the MT-ND6 gene in heteroplasmic form. Based on the literature, we hypothesize that the mitochondrial mutation together with mT18 could result in CVS.

Prevalence of Undiagnosed Acute Hepatic Porphyria in Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome and Overlap in Clinical Symptoms

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Acute hepatic porphyria (AHP) presents with nausea and vomiting and can mimic cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS). The prevalence of AHP in CVS and overlap in clinical symptomatology is not known. We thus sought to determine the prevalence of pathogenic variants for AHP and characterize symptom overlap between CVS and AHP.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study of 234 CVS patients using Rome criteria. Patients were eligible for AHP genetic testing if they had recurrent episodes of severe, diffuse abdominal pain with ≥ 2 of the following-peripheral nervous system (muscle weakness/aching, numbness, tingling), central nervous system (confusion, anxiety, seizures, hallucinations), autonomic nervous system (hyponatremia, tachycardia, hypertension, constipation) symptoms, red/brownish urine, or blistering skin lesions on sun-exposed areas. A family history of AHP or elevated urinary porphobilinogen (PBG)/aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) were also criteria for genetic testing and was performed using a 4-gene panel.

RESULTS

Mean age was 38.7 ± 14.5 years, 180 (76.9%) were female and 200 (85.5%) were Caucasian. During a CVS attack, 173 (92%) reported abdominal pain, 166 (87.2%) had peripheral nervous system, 164 (86.8%) had central nervous system and 173 (92) % had autonomic symptoms. Ninety-one eligible patients completed genetic testing. None were positive for AHP but two had variants of uncertain significance (VUS) in the HMBS gene.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a high prevalence of non-gastrointestinal symptoms in CVS, like AHP, which is important for clinicians to recognize. AHP was not detected in this study and larger studies are warranted to ascertain its prevalence.

Functional Gastrointestinal Diseases and Dietary Practices among Pakistani Children-A Schools Based Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Functional gastrointestinal diseases (FGIDs) are an important yet highly under explored area among public health issues. FGIDs' complex etiology makes them of interest along with their prevalence in children steadily increasing, especially in the developing world. We aimed to determine the burden FGIDs pose on school-going children, and to determine its association with the dietary intake patterns in Pakistani children.

METHODOLOGY

The study included 385 school-children from public and private schools in Pakistan through multistage random sampling, from March to August 2022. We used the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and Rome IV Criteria for a comprehensive exploration of the issue. Associations between the FGIDs and dietary factors were analyzed using chi-square and Fischer's exact tests in SPSS version 26.0.

RESULTS

Females constituted 77.4% (n = 298) of all respondents, while 44.9% (n = 173) of the total reported a family history of gastrointestinal diseases. FFQ analysis showed varying consumption frequencies for different food groups. Functional abdominal pain and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) were the highest reported FGIDs with a prevalence of 38.7% (n = 149) and 24.9% (n = 96), respectively. Statistical associations were found between different FGIDs and gender, age, household income, family members, and dietary variables such as fruit, vegetable, beverage and pulse consumption.

CONCLUSION

FGIDs were found to be associated with a number of socio-demographic and dietary factors which calls for small scale and large scale attention to the issue. Results from the current study and further studies may help develop guidelines to manage these disorders in Pakistan.

Type 1 diabetes complicated with cyclic vomiting syndrome and exogenous insulin antibody syndrome: A case report

Every fifth individual with type 1 diabetes (T1D) suffers from an additional autoimmune disorder due to shared genetic factors and dysregulated immunity. Here we report an extremely rare case of T1D complicated with cyclic vomiting and hypoglycaemia. A 27-year-old Chinese woman with 14-year history of T1D was periodically hospitalized for severe vomiting of more than 30 times a day without apparent organic causes. The vomiting developed acutely and remitted spontaneously after 2-3 days, followed with intractable hypoglycaemia for another 3-4 days during the hospitalization. A few weeks after discharge, she was admitted once again with the same symptoms and disease course. Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) was diagnosed according to the Rome IV criteria, a system developed to define the functional gastrointestinal disorders. Dynamic association and disassociation of exogenous insulin and insulin antibodies (IAs) were identified in her blood during hypoglycaemia, leading to the diagnosis of exogenous insulin antibody syndrome (EIAS). Treatment with rituximab to suppress the IAs was associated with a striking amelioration of hypoglycaemia. Unexpectedly, the episodes of cyclic vomiting were also dramatically reduced. In conclusion, we identified the first case with alternating CVS and EIAS in the setting of T1D. Dynamic measurements of free and total insulin are helpful for the diagnosis of EIAS. CVS is likely to be a latent autoimmune disorder considering the good response to rituximab treatment.

Current understanding of the etiology of cyclic vomiting syndrome and therapeutic strategies in its management

INTRODUCTION

Cyclic vomiting syndrome is a chronic debilitating disorder of the gut-brain interaction and is characterized by recurrent episodes of nausea and vomiting.Recent studies indicate that it is common and affects 2% of the US population. Unfortunately, there is significant heterogeneity in the management of these patients in the medical community. This review article aims to bridge this gap and will review the epidemiology and etiology with a focus on management of CVS.

AREAS COVERED

This article reviews the epidemiology, and pathophysiology of CVS and impact on patients. It also discusses management based on recent guidelines based on which is intended for the busy clinician. A literature search was done using PubMed and key words "cyclic vomiting", "management", "etiology", and pathophysiology were used to identify articles of importance.

EXPERT OPINION

CVS is a complex, poorly understood disorder of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) and has a significant negative impact on patients, families and the healthcare system. Recent guidelines recommend a multidisciplinary approach to management using prophylactic therapy in moderate-severe CVS and abortive medication for acute flares. However more research is needed to better understand the pathophysiology and develop targeted therapies for CVS.

Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome in the Emergency Department: A 10-Year Review of Clinical Presentation and Management

OBJECTIVES

The aims of the study were (1) to determine how frequently patients with cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) present to the pediatric emergency department (ED) with CVS-related symptoms, (2) to identify variables in clinical presentation that occur frequently in patients with multiple ED visits, and (3) to compare ED management of CVS with recommended guidelines.

METHODS

This study is a retrospective chart review of all ED visits for CVS between April 1, 2008, and April 1, 2018, at a single center. Patients were identified from a master list of patients diagnosed with CVS in a pediatric gastroenterology clinic at the same center between June 1, 2004, and June 19, 2018.

RESULTS

Of the 181 CVS clinic patients identified, 65 had visited to the ED (35.9%). Two hundred twenty-eight visits met inclusion criteria. A total of 42.5% of these visits were made by a small number of high-intensity patients (n = 6) who had an average of 16.1 visits each. These patients represented less than 10% of the total patient group. Patients with frequent visits had longer visits (536.52 vs 380.55 minutes), more frequent hospital admissions (57.73% vs 29.01%), and more visits to the ED before a formal diagnosis of CVS was made (5.83 vs 1.22), but few other distinguishing characteristics. Only 27% of eligible visits were managed with an available order set, and management varied from recommended guidelines.

CONCLUSIONS

An ambiguous presentation makes the identification and consistent management of CVS in the ED difficult. Physicians should consider CVS for patients who present multiple times with unremitting vomiting to ensure appropriate referral for diagnosis and prophylactic treatment. Future studies are warranted to evaluate anticipatory processing and treatment of the "high-intensity patients" who account for much of the clinical morbidity and resource utilization.

Differential Diagnosis of Cyclic Vomiting and Periodic Headaches in a Child with Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt: Case Report of Chronic Shunt Overdrainage

Fourteen months after the implantation of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt catheter, a six-year-old boy developed recurrent, severe headaches and vomiting every three weeks. The attacks were of such severity that hospitalizations for analgesic and antiemetic therapies and intravenous rehydration and electrolyte substitution were repeatedly required. The patient was asymptomatic between the attacks. After an extensive diagnostic workup-including repeated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neurosurgical examinations-common differential diagnoses, including shunt overdrainage, were ruled out. The patient was transferred to a specialized pediatric pain clinic with suspected cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS). Despite intensive and in part experimental prophylactic and abortive pharmacological treatment, there was no improvement in his symptoms. Consecutive MRI studies reinvestigating the initially excluded shunt overdrainage indicated an overdrainage syndrome. Subsequently, the symptoms disappeared after disconnecting the shunt catheter. This case report shows that even if a patient meets CVS case definitions, other differential diagnoses must be carefully reconsidered to avoid fixation error.

Cyclic vomiting syndrome in children

QUESTION

Several children in my office have recurrent vomiting events and they usually end up in the emergency department for intravenous rehydration. One of them has been suffering from those attacks approximately once per month for the past 2 years, leading to a reduction in her quality of life. What is known about cyclic vomiting syndrome and can it be prevented?

ANSWER

Cyclic vomiting syndrome includes severe episodic vomiting lasting for hours or days, separated by symptom-free intervals. This gut-brain interaction is poorly understood and is difficult to diagnose. Children suffer from relentless vomiting, lethargy, abdominal pain, anorexia, and nausea. Half of the children require intravenous rehydration. Once diagnosis is made, supportive measures to reduce suffering are recommended and include administering fluids, encouraging sleep, promoting quiet environments, and administering antiemetics or sedatives. In adults, tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, as well as topiramate as second-line therapy, have been proposed for prophylactic treatment. However, pediatric data are very limited and evidence does not support any recommended course of prophylactic therapy for children with the condition.

Death of a young woman with cyclic vomiting: a case report

We report the death of a 22-year-old woman, with a 3½ year history of cyclic vomiting and cannabis use since age 14, who developed torsades de pointes cardiac arrythmia while being treated in the emergency room for nausea and vomiting. Resuscitation restored spontaneous cardiac circulation, however, due to post-cardiac arrest anoxic brain injury, she never regained consciousness and was declared brain dead 4 days later. Postmortem examination confirmed hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, in keeping with the in-hospital diagnosis of brain death. The heart was anatomically normal but showed signs of acute post-cardiopulmonary arrest reperfusion injury. As a consequence of limited survival in hospital in a neuro-vegetative state, early bronchopneumonia and isolated pulmonary thromboemboli were seen. Toxicological studies confirmed cannabis use, in addition to the presence of haloperidol and ondansetron. Genetic studies were performed to rule out a possible channelopathy and revealed a mutation in the MYBPC3 and RYR2 genes. Death in this woman with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome was attributed to a fatal cardiac arrhythmia complicating vomiting-induced hypokalemia and treatment with QT interval prolonging and potentially arrhythmogenic medications, with the identified cardiac genetic mutations listed as contributing factors. The emphasis of this report is a) to raise awareness that death can occur due to cyclic vomiting, b) provide a brief but practical overview of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, c) describe the findings from our postmortem examination and come to the most reasonable cause and mechanism of death, d) comment on the risk factors associated with torsades de pointes cardiac arrythmia, and e) conclude that a complete postmortem examination is needed to exclude an anatomical or toxicological cause of death in cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, a disabling but preventable disorder.

Brain to Belly: Abdominal Variants of Migraine and Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders Associated With Migraine

Migraine is one of the most frequent causes of primary headache and 9% of children suffer from migraines. Most children will continue to experience migraine attacks as adults, therefore it is imperative that we have a thorough understanding of this major health issue. This article considers the so-called abdominal variants of migraine, which are more commonly seen in children rather than adults: abdominal migraine, cyclic vomiting syndrome, and infantile colic. Other functional abdominal pain disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia have also been linked to migraine in clinical studies. The common pathophysiological root of these diseases seems to be the gut-brain axis mechanism. Abdominal variants of migraine are considered pediatric precursors of migraine whereas the functional abdominal pain disorders related to migraine seem to share a pathophysiological root with no temporarily link as for today. In this review we aim to describe the epidemiological background, the current pathophysiological theories and the relationship of each disease to migraine. This review is the first to compile abdominal variants of migraine and functional abdominal pain disorders associated with migraine and we endeavor to elucidate the broad spectrum of migraine-related episodes in children.

Retrospective review of patients treated for cyclic vomiting syndrome with topiramate

BACKGROUND

Practice guidelines recommend topiramate as second-line treatment for the prevention of moderate-severe cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) in adults. However, data are limited to small studies in children.

AIM

To characterise the response to topiramate as prophylactic therapy in adults with CVS.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of patients with CVS. Clinical characteristics, number of CVS episodes, emergency department (ED) visits, and hospitalisations the year before and after initiating topiramate were recorded. Response was defined as a global improvement in symptoms or >50% reduction in the number of CVS episodes, ED visits or hospitalisations.

RESULTS

Sixty-five percent (88/136) of patients responded to topiramate in an intent-to-treat analysis. There was a significant decrease in the annual number of CVS episodes (18.1 vs 6.2, P < 0.0001), CVS-related ED visits (4.3 vs 1.6, P = 0.0029), and CVS-related hospitalisations (2.0 vs 1.0, P = 0.035). Logistic regression revealed that higher doses of topiramate, longer use of topiramate (≥12 months) and topiramate as monotherapy were associated with a response to treatment. Anxiety was associated with non-response to topiramate. Fifty-five percent of patients experienced side effects, and 32% discontinued the medication as a result. The most common side effects were cognitive impairment (13%), fatigue (11%) and paresthesia (10%). This represented a refractory group with topiramate being initiated in patients (92%) who had failed treatment with tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs).

CONCLUSIONS

Topiramate may be an effective second-line prophylaxis for patients with moderate-severe CVS, but its use is limited by side effects. Efforts to develop better-tolerated therapies for CVS are warranted.

The childhood migraine syndrome

Migraine is a complex genetic brain disorder with an intricate pathogenesis and polymorphous clinical presentations, particularly in children. In this Perspective, we describe the different phenotypes of migraine in children, including conditions that have been referred to in the International Classification of Headache Disorders as "syndromes that may be related to migraine''. Evidence is presented for the integration of abdominal migraine, cyclical vomiting syndrome, benign paroxysmal vertigo, benign paroxysmal torticollis and infantile colic into the unified diagnosis of 'childhood migraine syndrome' on the basis of clinical and epidemiological characteristics, and shared inheritance. In our opinion, such integration will guide clinicians from specialities other than neurology to consider migraine in the assessment of children with these disorders, as well as stimulate research into the genetics, pathophysiology and clinical features of all disorders within the syndrome. A diagnosis of childhood migraine syndrome would also enable patients to benefit from inclusion in clinical trials of old and new migraine treatments, thus potentially increasing the number of treatment options available.

Ketamine in Refractory Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of Literature

PURPOSE

To describe the use of ketamine in an adult patient in aborting a cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) episode.

SUMMARY

A 40-year-old man with a history of CVS was admitted after several days of nausea and vomiting. He was given parenteral doses of lorazepam and ondansetron but was unable to remain emesis-free. Ketamine was recommended by Gastroenterology as a therapeutic option after exhausting all first- and second-line agents. Ketamine is a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist that is widely used for its analgesic and sedative effects. While there is some data to support its use in CVS, most of the published literature has been limited to the Emergency Department setting and no specific therapeutic dose has been established. We will review our institution's experience with low dose ketamine in an adult patient with a CVS episode that is refractory to first-line agents.

CONCLUSION

In the case described, ketamine at a low sub-anesthetic dose successfully aborted a CVS episode with no appreciable side effects. As much of ketamine's full effects remain relatively unknown, additional studies are needed to determine optimal strategies for ketamine use in patients with a CVS episode.

Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome in Children

Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS) is an underdiagnosed episodic syndrome characterized by frequent hospitalizations, multiple comorbidities, and poor quality of life. It is often misdiagnosed due to the unappreciated pattern of recurrence and lack of confirmatory testing. CVS mainly occurs in pre-school or early school-age, but infants and elderly onset have been also described. The etiopathogenesis is largely unknown, but it is likely to be multifactorial. Recent evidence suggests that aberrant brain-gut pathways, mitochondrial enzymopathies, gastrointestinal motility disorders, calcium channel abnormalities, and hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in response to a triggering environmental stimulus are involved. CVS is characterized by acute, stereotyped and recurrent episodes of intense nausea and incoercible vomiting with predictable periodicity and return to baseline health between episodes. A distinction with other differential diagnoses is a challenge for clinicians. Although extensive and invasive investigations should be avoided, baseline testing toward identifying organic causes is recommended in all children with CVS. The management of CVS requires an individually tailored therapy. Management of acute phase is mainly based on supportive and symptomatic care. Early intervention with abortive agents during the brief prodromal phase can be used to attempt to terminate the attack. During the interictal period, non-pharmacologic measures as lifestyle changes and the use of reassurance and anticipatory guidance seem to be effective as a preventive treatment. The indication for prophylactic pharmacotherapy depends on attack intensity and severity, the impairment of the QoL and if attack treatments are ineffective or cause side effects. When children remain refractory to acute or prophylactic treatment, or the episode differs from previous ones, the clinician should consider the possibility of an underlying disease and further mono- or combination therapy and psychotherapy can be guided by accompanying comorbidities and specific sub-phenotype. This review was developed by a joint task force of the Italian Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (SIGENP) and Italian Society of Pediatric Neurology (SINP) to identify relevant current issues and to propose future research directions on pediatric CVS.

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome: definition, pathophysiology, clinical spectrum, insights into acute and long-term management

Although cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) was first reported more than 15 years ago, it still remains an unfamiliar clinical entity among physicians worldwide. CHS is categorized by Rome IV classification as a functional gastroduodenal disorder. It is characterized by stereotypical episodic vomiting in the setting of chronic, daily cannabis use, with cycles decreasing by the cessation of cannabis. CHS is also associated with abdominal pain reduced by hot baths and showers with comparative well-being between attacks. Thus, its clinical presentation resembles 'classic' cyclic vomiting syndrome, but eliciting a cannabis history is crucial in diagnosing this entity. In acute attacks, parenteral benzodiazepines are very effective. For prevention and long-term management, tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline are the mainstay of therapy requiring doses in the range of 50-200 mg/d to achieve symptom control. In addition, counseling to achieve marijuana cessation, accompanied by antianxiety medications, is necessary for sustaining clinical outcomes. Once the patient is in remission and off marijuana for a period of 6-12 months, then tapering the dose of amitriptyline can be implemented, with the goal of no therapy being achieved in the majority of patients over time. With the legalization of marijuana in many states, CHS will become an increasingly prevalent clinical entity, so educating about CHS is an important goal, particularly for emergency department physicians who generally first encounter these patients.

Prevalence of cannabis use has significantly increased in patients with cyclic vomiting syndrome

INTRODUCTION

Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder which leads to multiple hospitalizations and causes significant impairment of quality of life. Cannabis use is common in patients with CVS, and there are limited data on the national trends in the prevalence of its use in the United States.

METHODS

We used the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2005 to 2014 and identified hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of CVS by utilizing the International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision Clinical Modification (ICD-9 CM) coding system. The primary objective of the study was to analyze the prevalence and trends in cannabis use in CVS patients. We also assessed healthcare resource utilization associated with cannabis use.

RESULTS

A total of 129 090 hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of CVS were identified and included in the study. In the United States, the overall rate of cannabis use among these patients was 104 per 1000 hospitalizations (N = 13 460). Over the last decade, the prevalence of cannabis use increased by 10-fold, from 2.2% in 2005 to 21.2% in 2014.

CONCLUSION

Our analysis of the national database suggests that nearly 1 in 5 CVS hospitalizations have concurrent cannabis use. This prevalence is significantly rising over the last decade, perhaps due to changing legislation and increased utilization of cannabis. Age younger than 35, male gender, African American and Native American race, personal history of alcohol abuse and tobacco use were some of the strongest predictors of cannabis use.

Highlighting the importance of early diagnosis of cyclic vomiting syndrome in adults: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) is a potentially exhausting disorder and has an adverse impact on quality of life, but it is poorly recognized and is always misdiagnosed leading to a diagnostic delay of several years, especially in adults.

PATIENT CONCERNS

We report a case of a 32-year-old woman with recurrent severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, and repeated visits to the emergency department or the outpatient department for 4 years. Each time she was diagnosed with gastroenteritis or gastritis, and recovered after supportive treatment including antiemetics, maintenance of water and electrolyte balance, and a proton pump inhibitor.

DIAGNOSIS

Laboratory examinations, gastroenteroscopy, chest and abdominal computed tomography, and brain magnetic resonance imaging all failed to reveal abnormalities that would explain her symptoms. Based on typical symptoms and the exclusion of other diseases associated with repeated vomiting, the diagnosis was made as CVS.

INTERVENTIONS

She was given orally amitriptyline, 50 mg per night, and olanzapine, 1.25 mg per night.

OUTCOMES

The treatment was effective in inducing remission, and symptoms did not recur after treatment. The treatment lasted for 2 months and stopped. Her symptoms did not recur over the 10-month follow up.

CONCLUSION

CVS is not rare in adults, but its diagnosis is usually delayed due to poor recognition of the condition. Clinician awareness of CVS should be enhanced to improve early diagnosis.Core tip: Cyclic vomiting syndrome has a tremendous impact on the quality of life, but it is poorly recognized and is always misdiagnosed leading to a diagnostic delay of several years, especially in adults. The article presented a case report of cyclic vomiting syndrome of adult; we hope the article will attribute to increased awareness of physician and reduce delayed diagnosis.

A review of psychological treatments for vomiting associated with paediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Vomiting can be a primary symptom or associated with various other functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). The purpose of this review was to discuss the evidence for psychological treatments for vomiting in pediatric FGID.

RECENT FINDINGS

Vomiting of functional origin is an increasingly recognized symptom among children and adolescents. It is highly aversive and associated with disability and poor quality of life. Cognitive behavioral therapy, lifestyle modification (especially sleep), diaphragmatic breathing, and hypnosis can be helpful in preventing vomiting episodes and reducing disability. However, no randomized clinical trials have been performed. An evidence base for psychological treatments in children with vomiting of functional origin is highly needed.

SUMMARY

Increased evidence is demonstrating value and efficacy of incorporating psychogastroenterology practices into ongoing treatment plans for digestive conditions. Current psychological treatments are focused on prevention of vomiting through stress reduction and lifestyle modification, reduction of disability by limiting avoidance behaviours, as well as counteracting biological factors. However, psychological treatments have not been shown to be helpful during an acute vomiting episode. More research is needed to build an evidence base for psychological treatments in vomiting disorders.

Burden of Comorbidities in Hospitalizations for Cannabis Use-associated Intractable Vomiting during Post-legalization Period

Objective The aim of this study was to observe the trends of intractable vomiting and cannabis use disorder (CUD) with demographic characteristics, medical and psychiatric comorbidities, and hospitalization outcomes. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the nationwide inpatient sample (2010 to 2014). Patients aged 16-50 years discharged with a primary diagnosis of intractable vomiting and CUD were included (N = 9,601). We used the linear-by-linear association chi-square test and independent-sample T-test for measuring the categorical and continuous data, respectively. Results The number of intractable vomiting hospitalizations with CUD had an increasing trend (P < 0.001) with a 28.6% increase over five years. About half of the study population included young (16-30 years, 48.4%) males (57.2%). There was a decreasing trend (P = 0.041) in the prevalence of intractable vomiting with CUD in non-Hispanic Whites and Blacks, whereas there was 778% increase in Hispanics. The mean length of stay was 3.2 days which had a decreasing linear trend, and total hospital charges showed an increasing trend (P < 0.001), averaging $22,890. Electrolyte disorders (55.3%), hypertension (25.3%), chronic lung disease (11.9%), and deficiency anemia (10.3%) constituted the majority of comorbidities, with anemia showing a statistically significant increasing trend (P = 0.004). Anxiety disorders increased from 20.8% to 30.8% over five years, whereas depression decreased from 19.2% to 16.4% (P < 0.001). Concomitant tobacco abuse/dependence was present in 41.2% of patients with CUD. Conclusion The results of our study show that the intractable vomiting hospitalizations related to CUD have increased significantly over a five-year period. The general public and healthcare practitioners should be made aware of the paradoxical gastrointestinal side effects of cannabis.