Point-of-care application of: ‘Trial of cannabidiol for drug-resistant seizures in the Dravet syndrome’

Cannabis Use for Therapeutic Purposes by Children and Youth at a Tertiary Teaching Hospital in Canada: A Retrospective Chart Review

BACKGROUND

The study of the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes in the pediatric population is increasing, yet data on efficacy and safety are limited. Characterization of pediatric cannabis use for therapeutic purposes will improve understanding of the circumstances under which it occurs and the associated outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes, regardless of authorization, in a pediatric tertiary teaching hospital.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was completed for patients 18 years of age or younger who used cannabis for therapeutic purposes, regardless of authorization, between May 1, 2014, and May 1, 2017. Patients whose cannabis use was documented as recreational were excluded.

RESULTS

In total, 300 patients were identified, of whom 37 met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 30 patients had documentation of medically supervised cannabis use. Most were using cannabis for seizures (n = 28), and many of these (n = 23) were patients with seizures described as intractable or refractory. Of the 27 patients who were experiencing seizures at initiation of medical cannabis, 21 had documentation of a decrease in seizure frequency. This decrease was transient for 16 patients, with a mean duration of 130.4 days (standard deviation 99.1 days). Seven patients self-medicated with cannabis. They obtained cannabis without authorization and used it for chronic pain (n = 5) and/or anxiety (n = 5).

CONCLUSIONS

Medically supervised cannabis use occurred most often in patients with intractable or refractory seizures. According to these data, seizure response is variable, and initial decreases may be transient for pediatric patients using cannabis. To ensure greater consistency and rigour in the conduct of prospective research and thus to generate better-quality research on the therapeutic effects of medical cannabis, development of a standardized care record is needed.

Human-specific approaches to brain research for the 21st century: a South American perspective

The 21st century paradigm in toxicology, which emphasizes mechanistic understanding and species-relevant modeling of human biology and pathophysiology, is gaining traction in the wider biosciences through a global workshop series organized by the BioMed21 Collaboration. The second of this series, entitled Emerging Technology Toward Pathway-Based Human Brain Research, was held in Brazil in 2017, bringing together leading South American and international scientists, research funders and other stakeholders. The aims were to foster strategic scientific dialogue and identify actionable consensus recommendations as a first step toward a roadmap for 21st century, human-specific health research and funding in the region.