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Wang Y, Geng G, Hu W, Zhang H, Liu Y, Gao Z, Zhang H, Shi J. Epileptic seizures as an initial symptom for Sturge‑Weber syndrome type III: A report of two cases. Exp Ther Med 2024; 28:299. [PMID: 38868613 PMCID: PMC11168029 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2024.12588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) type III, a rare neurocutaneous disorder, presents diagnostic challenges due to its variable clinical manifestations. The present study focuses on enhancing the understanding of this syndrome by conducting a detailed analysis of two pediatric cases and providing a comprehensive review of the existing literature. The cases, managed at the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University (Jinan, China), highlight the diverse clinical presentations and successful management strategies for SWS type III. In the first case, a 4-year-old male patient exhibited paroxysmal hemiplegia, epileptic seizures and cerebral angiographic findings indicative of left pia mater and venous malformation. The second case involved a 2.5-year-old male patient presenting with recurrent seizures and angiographic findings on the right side. Both cases underscore the importance of considering epileptic seizures, acquired and transient hemiplegia and cognitive impairments in the diagnosis of SWS type III. The present study provides insights into the effective use of both pharmacological and surgical interventions, drawing from the positive outcomes observed in these cases. The findings emphasize the need for heightened awareness and a meticulous approach in diagnosing and treating SWS type III, contributing to the better management and prognosis of this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaping Wang
- Epilepsy Center, Jinan Children's Hospital (Children's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University), Jinan, Shandong 250000, P.R. China
| | - Guifu Geng
- Epilepsy Center, Jinan Children's Hospital (Children's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University), Jinan, Shandong 250000, P.R. China
| | - Wandong Hu
- Epilepsy Center, Jinan Children's Hospital (Children's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University), Jinan, Shandong 250000, P.R. China
| | - Huan Zhang
- Epilepsy Center, Jinan Children's Hospital (Children's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University), Jinan, Shandong 250000, P.R. China
| | - Yong Liu
- Epilepsy Center, Jinan Children's Hospital (Children's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University), Jinan, Shandong 250000, P.R. China
| | - Zaifen Gao
- Epilepsy Center, Jinan Children's Hospital (Children's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University), Jinan, Shandong 250000, P.R. China
| | - Hongwei Zhang
- Epilepsy Center, Jinan Children's Hospital (Children's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University), Jinan, Shandong 250000, P.R. China
| | - Jianguo Shi
- Epilepsy Center, Jinan Children's Hospital (Children's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University), Jinan, Shandong 250000, P.R. China
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Valery CB, Iannotti I, Kossoff EH, Zabel A, Cohen B, Ou Y, Pinto A, Comi AM. Retrospective Analysis of Presymptomatic Treatment In Sturge-Weber Syndrome. ANNALS OF THE CHILD NEUROLOGY SOCIETY 2024; 2:60-72. [PMID: 38745912 PMCID: PMC11090403 DOI: 10.1002/cns3.20058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Background Ninety percent of infants with Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) brain involvement have seizure onset before 2 years of age; this is associated with worse neurologic outcome. Presymptomatic treatment before seizure onset may delay seizure onset and improve outcome, as has been shown in other conditions with a high-risk of developing epilepsy such as tuberous sclerosis complex. Electroencephalogram (EEG) may be a biomarker to predict seizure onset. This retrospective clinical data analysis aims to assess impact of presymptomatic treatment in SWS. Methods This two-centered, IRB-approved, retrospective study analyzed records from patients with SWS brain involvement. Clinical data recorded included demographics, age of seizure onset (if present), brain involvement extent (unilateral versus bilateral), port-wine birthmark (PWB) extent, family history of seizure, presymptomatic treatment if received, neuroscore, and anti-seizure medication. EEG reports prior to seizure onset were analyzed. Results Ninety-two patients were included (48 females), and 32 received presymptomatic treatment outside of a formal protocol (5 aspirin, 16 aspirin and levetiracetam; 9 aspirin and oxcarbazepine, 2 valproic acid). Presymptomatically-treated patients were more likely to be seizure-free at 2 years (15 of 32; 47% versus 7 of 60; 12%; p<.001). A greater percentage of presymptomatically-treated patients had bilateral brain involvement (38% treated versus 17% untreated; p=.026). Median hemiparesis neuroscore at 2 years was better in presymptomatically-treated patients. In EEG reports prior to seizure onset, the presence of slowing, epileptiform discharges, or EEG-identified seizures was associated with seizure onset by 2 (p=.001). Conclusion Presymptomatic treatment is a promising approach to children diagnosed with SWS prior to seizure onset. Further study is needed, including prospective drug trials, long-term neuropsychological outcome, and prospective EEG analysis to assess this approach and determine biomarkers for presymptomatic treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Eric H. Kossoff
- Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
| | - Andrew Zabel
- Department of Neuropsychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
| | - Bernard Cohen
- Department if Dermatology and Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
| | - Yangming Ou
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
| | - Anna Pinto
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital
| | - Anne M. Comi
- Department of Neurology, Kennedy Krieger Institute
- Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
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Dell'Isola GB, Verrotti A, Sciaccaluga M, Dini G, Ferrara P, Parnetti L, Costa C. Cannabidiol: metabolism and clinical efficacy in epileptic patients. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2024; 20:119-131. [PMID: 38465404 DOI: 10.1080/17425255.2024.2329733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The landscape of epilepsy treatment has undergone a significant transformation with the emergence of cannabidiol as a potential therapeutic agent. Epidiolex, a pharmaceutical formulation of highly purified CBD, garnered significant attention not just for its therapeutic potential but also for being the first cannabis-derived medication to obtain approval from regulatory bodies. AREA COVERED In this narrative review the authors explore the intricate landscape of CBD as an antiseizure medication, deepening into its pharmacological mechanisms and clinical trials involving various epileptic encephalopathies. This exploration serves as a comprehensive guide, shedding light on a compound that holds promise for individuals contending with the significant challenges of drug-resistant epilepsy. EXPERT OPINION Rigorous studies highlight cannabidiol's efficacy, safety profile, and potential cognitive benefits, warranting further exploration for its approval in various drug-resistant epilepsy forms. As a promising therapeutic option, cannabidiol not only demonstrates efficacy in seizure control but also holds the potential for broader enhancements in the quality of life, especially for patients with epileptic encephalopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Miriam Sciaccaluga
- Section of Neurology, Laboratory of Experimental Neurology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
- "Mauro Baschirotto" Institute for Rare Diseases - BIRD Foundation Onlus, Longare, Vicenza, Italy
| | - Gianluca Dini
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Pietro Ferrara
- Unit of Pediatrics, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucilla Parnetti
- Section of Neurology, Laboratory of Experimental Neurology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Cinzia Costa
- Section of Neurology, Laboratory of Experimental Neurology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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Liu S, He Z, Li J. Long-term efficacy and adverse effects of cannabidiol in adjuvant treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ther Adv Neurol Disord 2023; 16:17562864231207755. [PMID: 37915501 PMCID: PMC10617284 DOI: 10.1177/17562864231207755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic brain diseases. Almost one-third of patients have drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). Cannabidiol is being considered as a potential novel drug for treating DRE. Objectives To investigate long-term efficacy and safety of cannabidiol in treatment of DRE and the differences in cannabidiol treatment among patients with different characteristics. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources and methods Medline, Embase, and CENTRAL were searched for literature. RevMan5.4 was used for meta-analysis. The Intention-to-treat set and the random effect were used as the main analysis. Subgroup analyses were performed according to age, dose, concomitant antiseizure medications (ASMs), epilepsy syndromes, and study designs. Results Fifty studies were included in this systematic review. A total of 4791 participants were collected. The responder rates (seizure frequency reduced at least 50%) at 12-, 24-, 48-, 72-, 96-, and 144-week were 0.40 [0.36, 0.45], 0.39 [0.34, 0.44], 0.37 [0.30, 0.44], 0.27 [0.17, 0.37], 0.22 [0.14, 0.30], and 0.38 [0.23, 0.53]. Seizure-free rates were 0.04 [0.03, 0.06], 0.04 [0.03, 0.05], 0.03 [0.02, 0.05], 0.03 [0.02, 0.03], 0.02 [0.01, 0.03], and 0.04 [0.01, 0.06]. Proportion of adverse events were 0.72 [0.61, 0.83], 0.62 [0.42, 0.81], 0.60 [0.41, 0.79], 0.35 [0.14, 0.56], 0.83 [0.75, 0.90], and 0.96 [0.94, 0.99]. The pooled 12-, 24-, 48-, 96-, and 144-week proportion of serious adverse events were 0.15 [0.09, 0.21], 0.23 [0.14, 0.31], 0.10 [0.06, 0.15], 0.31 [0.24, 0.38], and 0.40 [0.35, 0.45]. Subgroup analyses showed that there was no significant difference on efficacy and safety among age subgroups and epilepsy syndromes subgroups. For most periods, there were no significant difference on efficacy among subgroups of dose and concomitant ASMs. However, higher doses and more concomitant ASMs were associated with higher proportion of adverse events. Conclusion Cannabidiol treatment of DRE has stable efficacy and fewer adverse events in early period. Long-term use may have decreased efficacy and increased adverse events. Dose escalation may not increase efficacy, but may increase adverse events. Furthermore, cannabidiol use may reduce dosage of other ASMs without reducing efficacy, thereby reducing adverse effects. Cannabidiol may have similar effects in various epilepsy syndromes. Trial registration PROSPERO (CRD42022351250).
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengyi Liu
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zihua He
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jinmei Li
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Alley, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
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Singh K, Bhushan B, Chanchal DK, Sharma SK, Rani K, Yadav MK, Porwal P, Kumar S, Sharma A, Virmani T, Kumar G, Noman AA. Emerging Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol (CBD) in Neurological Disorders: A Comprehensive Review. Behav Neurol 2023; 2023:8825358. [PMID: 37868743 PMCID: PMC10586905 DOI: 10.1155/2023/8825358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Cannabidiol (CBD), derived from Cannabis sativa, has gained remarkable attention for its potential therapeutic applications. This thorough analysis explores the increasing significance of CBD in treating neurological conditions including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease, which present major healthcare concerns on a worldwide scale. Despite the lack of available therapies, CBD has been shown to possess a variety of pharmacological effects in preclinical and clinical studies, making it an intriguing competitor. This review brings together the most recent findings on the endocannabinoid and neurotransmitter systems, as well as anti-inflammatory pathways, that underlie CBD's modes of action. Synthesized efficacy and safety assessments for a range of neurological illnesses are included, covering human trials, in vitro studies, and animal models. The investigation includes how CBD could protect neurons, control neuroinflammation, fend off oxidative stress, and manage neuronal excitability. This study emphasizes existing clinical studies and future possibilities in CBD research, addressing research issues such as regulatory complications and contradicting results, and advocates for further investigation of therapeutic efficacy and ideal dose methodologies. By emphasizing CBD's potential to improve patient well-being, this investigation presents a revised viewpoint on its suitability as a therapeutic intervention for neurological illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuldeep Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, Rajiv Academy for Pharmacy, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Bharat Bhushan
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, GLA University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Dilip Kumar Chanchal
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Glocal School of Pharmacy, Glocal University, Mirzapur Pole, Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Satish Kumar Sharma
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Glocal School of Pharmacy, Glocal University, Mirzapur Pole, Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ketki Rani
- Department of Chemistry, SGT College of Pharmacy, SGT University, Gurugram, Haryana, India
| | - Manoj Kumar Yadav
- Department of Pharmacology, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Chhalesar Campus, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Prateek Porwal
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Glocal School of Pharmacy, Glocal University, Mirzapur Pole, Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Shivendra Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Rajiv Academy for Pharmacy, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ashwani Sharma
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MVN University, 121105, Palwal, Haryana, India
| | - Tarun Virmani
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MVN University, 121105, Palwal, Haryana, India
| | - Girish Kumar
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MVN University, 121105, Palwal, Haryana, India
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Portela R, Mota DM, Ferreira PJG, Lula MD, Reis BB, Oliveira HND, Ruas CM. [Judicialization of cannabidiol-based products in Brazil: an analysis from 2019 to 2022]. CAD SAUDE PUBLICA 2023; 39:e00024723. [PMID: 37820230 PMCID: PMC10566558 DOI: 10.1590/0102-311xpt024723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The study analyzed the lawsuits of patients who requested cannabidiol (CBD)-based products from the Brazilian Unified National Health System during the period from 2019 to 2022, describing sociodemographic, clinical, and legal characteristics. This is a cross-sectional study composed of the evaluation of the technical notes issued by the Center for Technical Support of the Judiciary (NatJus), which supports judicial decisions. The data were obtained from the e-NatJus system, of the Brazilian Ministry of Justice, using web scraping techniques. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. We analyzed 1,115 technical notes of the CBD plaintiffs, of which 54.7% of the male patients, with a mean age of 18.4 years, mostly from the South Region of the country (38.8%), and 49.6% sought treatment for epilepsy. Regarding the actions with favorable opinions, 28.8% had no scientific evidence, 26.5% pleaded for products without registration with the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency, and 25.3% of those that had registration were not in compliance with the therapeutic indication. Patients from the Northeast Region had a chance of a favorable opinion increased by 3.0 times and those diagnosed with epilepsy by 2.3. The expert opinions that supported the magistrates for the judicial decisions regarding the demands of patients for cannabidiol-based products in Brazil were mostly in accordance with scientific evidence, denoting the importance of NatJus in the qualification of access to medicinal products in the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronaldo Portela
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil
| | | | | | - Mariana Dias Lula
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil
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Caraballo RH, Reyes Valenzuela G, Fortini S, Espeche A, Gamboni B, Silva W, Semprino M, Fasulo L, Chacón S, Gallo A, Galicchio S, Cachia P. Cannabidiol in children with treatment-resistant epilepsy with myoclonic-atonic seizures. Epilepsy Behav 2023; 143:109245. [PMID: 37182500 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2023.109245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This multicenter study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of add-on cannabidiol (CBD) in treatment-resistant patients with epilepsy with myoclonic-atonic seizures (EMAtS) (n = 22) and Sturge Weber syndrome (SWS) with myoclonic-atonic seizures (n = 4). METHODS Patients who met the diagnostic criteria of treatment-resistant EMAtS or SWS with myoclonic-atonic seizures were included. Cannabidiol was added in doses ranging from 8 to 40 mg/kg/day. Efficacy was assessed by comparing seizure frequency before and after initiating CBD therapy. Neurologic examinations, brain magnetic resonance imaging, repeated prolonged electroencephalography (EEG) and/or video-EEG recordings, and neurometabolic studies were performed in all patients, and genetic investigations in 15. RESULTS After a mean follow-up of 19 months, 15/26 patients (57.7%) who received add-on CBD had a >50% seizure decrease; three (11.5%) became seizure-free. The remaining 11 patients (42.3%) had a 25-50% seizure reduction. Drop attacks, including myoclonic-atonic seizures and generalized tonic-clonic seizures, as well as atypical absences and nonconvulsive status epilepticus responded well to CBD. In SWS patients, focal motor seizures without consciousness impairment and focal non-motor seizures with consciousness impairment were recognized in two each; in three a 30% reduction of focal seizures was observed. Side effects were mild and did not lead to CBD discontinuation. CONCLUSION This study evaluating the use of add-on CBD in children with EMAtS or SWS with myoclonic-atonic seizures found that 15/26 (57.7%) had a >50% seizure reduction with good tolerability; three (11.5%) became seizure-free.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Adolfo Gallo
- Hospital de Pediatría Prof. Dr. Juan P Garrahan, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Pedro Cachia
- Hospital de Niños Victor J Vilela, Rosario, Santa Fé, Argentina
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Smegal LF, Vedmurthy P, Ryan M, Eagen M, Andrejow NW, Sweeney K, Reidy TG, Yeom S, Lin DD, Suskauer SJ, Kalb LG, Salpekar JA, Zabel TA, Comi AM. Cannabidiol Treatment for Neurological, Cognitive, and Psychiatric Symptoms in Sturge-Weber Syndrome. Pediatr Neurol 2023; 139:24-34. [PMID: 36508880 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2022.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A prior drug trial of cannabidiol for treatment-resistant epilepsy in patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS), a rare neurovascular condition, implicated improvements in neurological, quality of life (QOL), neuropsychologic, psychiatric, and motor outcomes. METHODS Ten subjects with SWS brain involvement, controlled seizures, and cognitive impairments received study drug in this Johns Hopkins institutional review board-approved, open-label, prospective drug trial. Oral cannabidiol was taken for six months (dose ranged from 5 to 20 mg/kg/day). SWS neuroscore, port-wine birthmark score, QOL, and adverse events were recorded every four to 12 weeks. Neuropsychologic, psychiatric, and motor assessments were administered at baseline and six months' follow-up. Most evaluations were conducted virtually due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. RESULTS Cannabidiol was generally well tolerated. Six subjects reported mild to moderate side effects related to study drug and continued on drug; one subject withdrew early due to moderate side effects. No seizures were reported. Significant improvements in SWS neuroscore, patient-reported QOL, anxiety and emotional regulation, and report of bimanual ability use were noted. Migraine QOL scores were high at baseline in these subjects, and remained high. Neuropsychologic and other QOL and motor outcomes remained stable, with some within-subject improvements noted. CONCLUSIONS Further studies are needed to determine whether Epidiolex can improve quality of life and be beneficial for neurological, anxiety, and motor impairments in SWS independent of seizure control. Large multicentered studies are needed to extend these preliminary findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay F Smegal
- Department of Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Hugo Moser Kennedy Krieger Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Pooja Vedmurthy
- Department of Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Hugo Moser Kennedy Krieger Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Matthew Ryan
- Department of Neuropsychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Melissa Eagen
- Fairmount Rehabilitation Programs, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | - Kristie Sweeney
- Department of Neuropsychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Teressa Garcia Reidy
- Fairmount Rehabilitation Programs, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - SangEun Yeom
- Department of Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Hugo Moser Kennedy Krieger Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Doris D Lin
- Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Stacy J Suskauer
- Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland; Departments of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Luther G Kalb
- Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jay A Salpekar
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - T Andrew Zabel
- Department of Neuropsychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Anne M Comi
- Department of Neurology, Hugo Moser Kennedy Krieger Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
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Sánchez-Espino LF, Ivars M, Antoñanzas J, Baselga E. Sturge-Weber Syndrome: A Review of Pathophysiology, Genetics, Clinical Features, and Current Management Approache. Appl Clin Genet 2023; 16:63-81. [PMID: 37124240 PMCID: PMC10145477 DOI: 10.2147/tacg.s363685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is a congenital, sporadic, and rare neurocutaneous disorder, characterized by the presence of a facial port-wine birthmark (PWB), glaucoma, and neurological manifestations including leptomeningeal angiomatosis and seizures. It is caused by a postzygotic, somatic, gain-of-function variant of the GNAQ gene, and more recently, the GNA11 gene in association with distinctive clinical features. Neuroimaging can help identify and stratify patients at risk for significant complications allowing closer follow-up; although no presymptomatic treatment has been demonstrated to be effective to date, these patients could benefit from early treatment and/or supportive interventions. Choroid plexus (CP) thickness measurements in brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have a high sensitivity and specificity for early and incipient changes in SWS. In contrast, the absence of pathologic findings makes it possible to rule out associated neurological involvement and leads to periodical observation, with new imaging studies only in cases of new clinical signs/symptoms. Periodic ophthalmological examination is also recommended every 3 months during the first year and yearly afterwards to monitor for glaucoma and choroidal hemangiomas. Treatment for SWS depends on the extent and areas that are affected. These include laser surgery for PWB, anticonvulsants in the case of brain involvement, with either seizures or abnormal EEG, and medical treatment or surgery for glaucoma. Sirolimus has been used in a limited number of patients and appears to be a safe and potentially effective treatment for cutaneous and extra-cutaneous features, however controlled clinical studies have not been carried out. Better knowledge of GNAQ/GNA11 molecular pathways will help to develop future targeted treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marta Ivars
- Pediatric Dermatology Department, Barcelona Children’s Hospital Sant Joan de Dèu, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
| | - Javier Antoñanzas
- Dermatology Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
| | - Eulalia Baselga
- Pediatric Dermatology Department, Barcelona Children’s Hospital Sant Joan de Dèu, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
- Correspondence: Eulalia Baselga, Department of Dermatology, Hospital Sant Joan de Deu, Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu, 2, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, 08950, Spain, Tel +34-686-68-9669, Email
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Abstract
Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is a rare, noninherited neurovascular disorder characterized by abnormal vasculature in the brain, skin, and eye. Patients with SWS characteristically have facial capillary malformation, also known as port-wine birthmark, a leptomeningeal vascular malformation seen on contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging images, abnormal blood vessels in the eye, and glaucoma. Patients with SWS have impaired perfusion to the brain and are at high risk of venous stroke and stroke-like episodes, seizures, and both motor and cognitive difficulties. While the activating R183Q GNAQ somatic mutation is the most common somatic mutation underlying SWS, recent research also implicates that GNA11 and GNB2 somatic mutations are related to SWS. Recent retrospective studies suggest the use of low-dose aspirin and vitamin D in treatment for SWS and prospective drug trials have supported the usefulness of cannabidiol and Sirolimus. Presymptomatic treatment with low-dose aspirin and antiepileptic drugs shows promising results in delaying seizure onset in some patients. This review focuses on the latest progress in the field of research for Sturge-Weber syndrome and highlights directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- SangEun Yeom
- Department of Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Hugo Moser Kennedy Krieger Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Anne M. Comi
- Department of Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Hugo Moser Kennedy Krieger Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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A Systemic Review of Medical Cannabinoids Dosing in Human. Clin Ther 2022; 44:e39-e58. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2022.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW There have been many debates, discussions, and published writings about the therapeutic value of cannabis plant and the hundreds of cannabinoids it contains. Many states and countries have attempted, are attempting, or have already passed bills to allow legal use of cannabinoids, especially cannabidiol (CBD), as medicines to treat a wide range of clinical conditions without having been approved by a regulatory body. Therefore, by using PubMed and Google Scholar databases, we have reviewed published papers during the past 30 years on cannabinoids as medicines and comment on whether there is sufficient clinical evidence from well-designed clinical studies and trials to support the use of CBD or any other cannabinoids as medicines. RECENT FINDINGS Current research shows that CBD and other cannabinoids currently are not ready for formal indications as medicines to treat a wide range of clinical conditions as promoted except for several exceptions including limited use of CBD for treating two rare forms of epilepsy in young children and CBD in combination with THC for treating multiple-sclerosis-associated spasticity. SUMMARY Research indicates that CBD and several other cannabinoids have potential to treat multiple clinical conditions, but more preclinical, and clinical studies and clinical trials, which follow regulatory guidelines, are needed to formally recommend CBD and other cannabinoids as medicines.
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Khalsa JH, Bunt G, Blum K, Maggirwar SB, Galanter M, Potenza MN. Review: Cannabinoids as Medicinals. CURRENT ADDICTION REPORTS 2022; 9:630-646. [PMID: 36093358 PMCID: PMC9449267 DOI: 10.1007/s40429-022-00438-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of review
There have been many debates, discussions, and published writings about the therapeutic value of cannabis plant and the hundreds of cannabinoids it contains. Many states and countries have attempted, are attempting, or have already passed bills to allow legal use of cannabinoids, especially cannabidiol (CBD), as medicines to treat a wide range of clinical conditions without having been approved by a regulatory body. Therefore, by using PubMed and Google Scholar databases, we have reviewed published papers during the past 30 years on cannabinoids as medicines and comment on whether there is sufficient clinical evidence from well-designed clinical studies and trials to support the use of CBD or any other cannabinoids as medicines. Recent findings Current research shows that CBD and other cannabinoids currently are not ready for formal indications as medicines to treat a wide range of clinical conditions as promoted except for several exceptions including limited use of CBD for treating two rare forms of epilepsy in young children and CBD in combination with THC for treating multiple-sclerosis-associated spasticity. Summary Research indicates that CBD and several other cannabinoids have potential to treat multiple clinical conditions, but more preclinical, and clinical studies and clinical trials, which follow regulatory guidelines, are needed to formally recommend CBD and other cannabinoids as medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jag H. Khalsa
- Division of Therapeutics and Medical Consequences, Medical Consequences of Drug Abuse and Infections Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, Special Volunteer, 16071 Industrial Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Ross Hall Room 502A, 2300 I Street, Washington, NWDC 20037 USA
- Drug Addiction and Co-occurring Infections, Aldie, VA 20105-5572 USA
| | - Gregory Bunt
- Samaritan Day Top Village, NYU School of Medicine, 550 First Ave, New York, NY 10016 USA
| | - Kenneth Blum
- Center for Behavioral Health & Sports, Western University Health Sciences, Pomona, CA USA
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- Division of Nutrigenomics, Precision Translational Medicine, LLC, San Antonio, TX USA
- Division of Nutrigenomics, Institute of Behavior & Neurogenetics, LLC, San Antonio, TX USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Wright University Boonshoff School of Medicine, Dayton, OH USA
| | - Sanjay B. Maggirwar
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Ross Hall Room 502A, 2300 I Street, Washington, NWDC 20037 USA
| | - Marc Galanter
- Department of Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, Room NBV20N28, New York, NY 10016 USA
| | - Marc N. Potenza
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience and the Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, 1 Church Street, Rm726, New Haven, CT 06510 USA
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14
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Armstrong C, Zavez A, Mulcahey PJ, Sogawa Y, Gotoff JM, Hagopian S, Minnick J, Marsh ED. Quantitative electroencephalographic analysis as a potential biomarker of response to treatment with cannabidiol. Epilepsy Res 2022; 185:106996. [PMID: 35963151 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2022.106996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Pharmaceutical grade cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the newest anti-seizure medications for refractory epilepsy, and the effects of CBD on EEG have not been fully described. METHODS Patients enrolled in a CBD expanded access study had EEGs prior to and 12 weeks after initiation of CBD treatment for their refractory epilepsy. In addition to evaluating the clinical EEG reports, a nonbiased quantitative EEG (qEEG) analysis of background EEG was performed to determine whether consistent changes occur in the EEG in response to administration of CBD. RESULTS No significant qualitative changes were seen, nor changes in quantitative markers of EEG amplitude (RMS amplitude, standard deviation of the amplitude, skewness, or kurtosis), frequency (relative delta, theta, or alpha power), Spearman correlation, or coherence between brain regions. However, relative beta power and 1/f slope, a measure of signal noise increased with the addition of CBD. When patients were separated into responders and nonresponders based on seizure reduction with CBD, responders also had decreased Spearman correlation between the frontopolar and occipital regions after addition of CBD, suggesting that responders may have quantitatively improved EEG background organization after CBD initiation. The differences in beta and 1/f slope were also seen more robustly in CBD responders compared with nonresponders after CBD initiation. These differences disappeared when analyzing only patients not taking benzodiazepines, suggesting that the effect of CBD on seizures was related to the ability of the brain to further increase beta in response to CBD in patients already taking benzodiazepines. We noted that even before initiation of CBD, 1/f slope was also significantly different in responders compared to nonresponders. Therefore, to explore the baseline EEG in responders and nonresponders, we utilized a variable selection procedure to identify baseline EEG features that could predict whether a patient's seizures would improve with CBD. In the optimal multivariable logistic model, baseline coherence, Spearman correlation, and patient sex jointly predicted whether a patient in this cohort would respond to CBD (defined as a seizure reduction of 40% or greater) with 74% accuracy. This model performed less well on a data set of reduced duration and variability, highlighting the importance of real-world testing of any clinically relevant model. CONCLUSION These results suggest that there are subtle changes in certain metrics detected by qEEG even at baseline that may not be perceived during qualitative EEG analysis and that could be used in the future as a biomarker to predict a patient's clinical response to CBD administration. Development of such a predictive EEG biomarker, especially before the initiation of a medication trial, could reduce unnecessary ASM exposure and improve outcomes for patients with epilepsy facing new medication selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caren Armstrong
- Division of Neurology and Pediatric Epilepsy Program, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Alexis Zavez
- Orphan Disease Center, Suite 1200, 125 S 31st St, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Patrick J Mulcahey
- Division of Neurology and Pediatric Epilepsy Program, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Yoshimi Sogawa
- UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pediatric Neurology 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Jill M Gotoff
- Geisinger Medical Center, 100 N Academy Avenue, Danville, PA 17822, USA
| | - Samantha Hagopian
- Division of Neurology and Pediatric Epilepsy Program, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jennie Minnick
- Division of Neurology and Pediatric Epilepsy Program, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Eric D Marsh
- Division of Neurology and Pediatric Epilepsy Program, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Orphan Disease Center, Suite 1200, 125 S 31st St, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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15
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Moreira GA, Moraes Neto R, Ribeiro RG, Crippa ACDS. Cannabidiol for the treatment of refractory epilepsy in children: a critical review of the literature. REVISTA PAULISTA DE PEDIATRIA 2022; 41:e2021197. [PMID: 35830160 PMCID: PMC9273119 DOI: 10.1590/1984-0462/2023/41/2021197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this current report was to present a critical review of the use of cannabidiol (CBD) in the treatment of refractory epilepsies in the pediatric population. Data source: Literature review was carried out in the Medline (PubMed), Cochrane, and Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) databases with the descriptors “Cannabidiol” and “Epilepsy.” The search was not limited by the date of publication, language, or study design. A total of 69 articles were included in the review. Data synthesis: The efficacy of CBD in treating epileptic seizures has been confirmed by randomized controlled trials for Lennox–Gastaut syndrome, Dravet syndrome, and tuberous sclerosis complex. The incidence of side effects reported in subjects of the studies is high. However, most studies indicate a good safety profile and tolerance to the drug, with most of the adverse effects being mild to moderate and transient. Conclusions: There is no consensus on the release of CBD as a therapeutic tool by the drug regulatory agencies worldwide. However, the use of CBD is promising since it has presented satisfactory results in crisis control in well-designed studies. In addition, this drug has a good safety and tolerance profile. However, further studies with a long follow-up period are needed to confirm its usefulness and the long-term safety in pediatric patients.
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16
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Zhou D, Dennis E, Snehal I, Swaminathan A. Cannabinoids in the Treatment of Epilepsy: A Review. EUROPEAN MEDICAL JOURNAL 2021. [DOI: 10.33590/emj/21-000951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabinoids have been studied for their role in the treatment of epilepsy for many years. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved them for the treatment of some refractory syndromes in 2018. Cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol are the most commonly studied cannabinoids and have been studied in great depth vis-à-vis their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Studies have shown the efficacy of cannabinoids in the treatment of refractory epilepsy. A substantial amount of research has been performed exploring the interactions between cannabinoids and other conventional antiseizure medications. The exact mechanisms by which cannabinoids exert their effects on seizure control remain unclear and research into these mechanisms continues in great earnest. Cognitive changes from cannabinoids are constantly being studied and add to potential benefits from the use of these compounds. Cultural and social misconceptions and roadblocks about the use of cannabinoids persist and represent an ongoing obstacle to increasing research and therapeutic use of these compounds. This review focuses on all these aspects and of the use of these cannabinoids in the treatment of epilepsy and seeks to offer a fairly comprehensive description of the facets of cannabinoid therapy for refractory epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Zhou
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Erin Dennis
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Isha Snehal
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
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17
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Jugl S, Okpeku A, Costales B, Morris EJ, Alipour-Haris G, Hincapie-Castillo JM, Stetten NE, Sajdeya R, Keshwani S, Joseph V, Zhang Y, Shen Y, Adkins L, Winterstein AG, Goodin A. A Mapping Literature Review of Medical Cannabis Clinical Outcomes and Quality of Evidence in Approved Conditions in the USA from 2016 to 2019. Med Cannabis Cannabinoids 2021; 4:21-42. [PMID: 34676348 PMCID: PMC8525213 DOI: 10.1159/000515069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2017, a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report comprehensively evaluated the body of evidence regarding cannabis health effects through the year 2016. The objectives of this study are to identify and map the most recently (2016-2019) published literature across approved conditions for medical cannabis and to evaluate the quality of identified recent systematic reviews, published following the NASEM report. Following the literature search from 5 databases and consultation with experts, 11 conditions were identified for evidence compilation and evaluation: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, autism, cancer, chronic noncancer pain, Crohn's disease, epilepsy, glaucoma, human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease, and posttraumatic stress disorder. A total of 198 studies were included after screening for condition-specific relevance and after imposing the following exclusion criteria: preclinical focus, non-English language, abstracts only, editorials/commentary, case studies/series, and non-U.S. study setting. Data extracted from studies included: study design type, outcome definition, intervention definition, sample size, study setting, and reported effect size. Few completed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified. Studies classified as systematic reviews were graded using the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews-2 tool to evaluate the quality of evidence. Few high-quality systematic reviews were available for most conditions, with the exceptions of MS (9 of 9 graded moderate/high quality; evidence for 2/9 indicating cannabis improved outcomes; evidence for 7/9 indicating cannabis inconclusive), epilepsy (3 of 4 graded moderate/high quality; 3 indicating cannabis improved outcomes; 1 indicating cannabis inconclusive), and chronic noncancer pain (12 of 13 graded moderate/high quality; evidence for 7/13 indicating cannabis improved outcomes; evidence from 6/7 indicating cannabis inconclusive). Among RCTs, we identified few studies of substantial rigor and quality to contribute to the evidence base. However, there are some conditions for which significant evidence suggests that select dosage forms and routes of administration likely have favorable risk-benefit ratios (i.e., epilepsy and chronic noncancer pain). The body of evidence for medical cannabis requires more rigorous evaluation before consideration as a treatment option for many conditions, and evidence necessary to inform policy and treatment guidelines is currently insufficient for many conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Jugl
- Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Safety (CoDES), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Aimalohi Okpeku
- Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Safety (CoDES), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Brianna Costales
- Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Safety (CoDES), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Earl J. Morris
- Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Safety (CoDES), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Golnoosh Alipour-Haris
- Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Safety (CoDES), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Juan M. Hincapie-Castillo
- Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Safety (CoDES), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | | | - Ruba Sajdeya
- Epidemiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Shailina Keshwani
- Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Safety (CoDES), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Verlin Joseph
- Epidemiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Yahan Zhang
- Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Safety (CoDES), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Yun Shen
- Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Safety (CoDES), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Lauren Adkins
- Health Sciences Center Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Almut G. Winterstein
- Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Safety (CoDES), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Amie Goodin
- Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Safety (CoDES), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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18
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Smegal LF, Sebold AJ, Hammill AM, Juhász C, Lo WD, Miles DK, Wilfong AA, Levin AV, Fisher B, Ball KL, Pinto AL, Comi AM. Multicenter Research Data of Epilepsy Management in Patients With Sturge-Weber Syndrome. Pediatr Neurol 2021; 119:3-10. [PMID: 33813331 PMCID: PMC8162684 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2021.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epilepsy in typical Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is common, and many questions remain regarding the treatment outcomes. We analyzed a large multicenter database with focus on neurological drug treatment in different demographic and SWS characteristic groups. METHODS A total of 268 patients with brain involvement and a history of seizures were selected from a research data registry generated from a multicenter cross-sectional questionnaire. We examined associations between medication use and binary variables such as sex, ethnicity, and brain, skin, and eye involvement laterality. We analyzed group differences in mean number of antiseizure medications and age at diagnosis, enrollment, and seizure onset and examined differences in median SWS neurological scores in groups of interest. RESULTS The most frequently used medications were levetiracetam (48.1%), low-dose aspirin (44.8%), oxcarbazepine (39.9%), and phenobarbital (14.9%). Lamotrigine was more frequently used in adults than in children (P = 0.001). History of neurosurgery was associated with no current antiseizure medication use (P = 0.001), whereas bilateral brain involvement and family history of seizures were associated with using a higher number of antiseizure medications (P = 0.002, P = 0.027, respectively). Subjects with bilateral brain involvement and early seizure onset were associated with using a higher number of antiseizure medications (P = 0.002) and phenobarbital use (0.003). CONCLUSIONS Levetiracetam, low-dose aspirin, and oxcarbazepine were the most frequently used medications. More severely affected patients were frequently on a greater number of antiseizure medications. Surgery for epilepsy was associated with the ability to discontinue antiseizure medication. Longitudinal studies are needed to further investigate medication use in patients with SWS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay F. Smegal
- Department of Neurology, Hugo Moser Kennedy Krieger Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Alison J. Sebold
- Department of Neurology, Hugo Moser Kennedy Krieger Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Adrienne M. Hammill
- Division of Hematology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Csaba Juhász
- Departments of Pediatrics, Neurology, and Neurosurgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Warren D. Lo
- Neurology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Daniel K. Miles
- Department of Neurology, Pediatric Epilepsy, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York
| | - Angus A. Wilfong
- Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Alex V. Levin
- Pediatric Ophthalmology and Ocular Genetics, Flaum Eye Institute, Golisano Children’s Hospital, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
| | | | | | - Anna L. Pinto
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Anne M. Comi
- Department of Neurology, Hugo Moser Kennedy Krieger Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland,Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland,Communications should be addressed to: Dr. Comi; Department of Neurology; Hugo Moser Kennedy Krieger Research Institute; Rm 553, Kennedy Krieger Outpatient Bldg, 801 North Broadway; Baltimore, MD 21205. (A.M. Comi)
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19
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Sebold AJ, Day AM, Ewen J, Adamek J, Byars A, Cohen B, Kossoff EH, Mizuno T, Ryan M, Sievers J, Smegal L, Suskauer SJ, Thomas C, Vinks A, Zabel TA, Hammill AM, Comi AM. Sirolimus Treatment in Sturge-Weber Syndrome. Pediatr Neurol 2021; 115:29-40. [PMID: 33316689 PMCID: PMC8209677 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2020.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sturge-Weber syndrome is a rare neurovascular disorder associated with capillary malformation, seizures, cognitive impairments, and stroke-like episodes (SLEs), arising from a somatic activating mutation in GNAQ. Studies suggest this mutation may cause hyperactivation of the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway. Sirolimus is an mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor studied in other vascular anomalies and a potentially promising therapy in Sturge-Weber syndrome. METHODS Ten patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome brain involvement and cognitive impairments were enrolled. Oral sirolimus was taken for six months (maximum dose: 2 mg/day, target trough level: 4-6 ng/mL). Neuropsychological testing, electroencephalography, and port-wine score were performed at baseline and after six months on sirolimus. Neuroquality of life, adverse events, and Sturge-Weber Syndrome Neurological Score (neuroscore) were recorded at each visit. RESULTS Sirolimus was generally well tolerated; one subject withdrew early. Adverse events considered related to sirolimus were mostly (15/16) grade 1. A significant increase in processing speed was seen in the overall group (P = 0.031); five of nine patients with available data demonstrated statistically rare improvement in processing speed. Improvements were seen in the neuroquality of life subscales measuring anger (P = 0.011), cognitive function (P = 0.015), and depression (P = 0.046). Three subjects experiencing SLEs before and during the study reported shortened recovery times while on sirolimus. CONCLUSIONS Sirolimus was well tolerated in individuals with Sturge-Weber syndrome and may be beneficial for cognitive impairments, especially in patients with impaired processing speed or a history of SLE. A future, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of sirolimus in patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome is needed to further understand these potentially beneficial effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison J. Sebold
- Department of Neurology, Hugo Moser Kennedy Krieger Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Alyssa M. Day
- Department of Neurology, Hugo Moser Kennedy Krieger Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Joshua Ewen
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jack Adamek
- Department of Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Anna Byars
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Department of Neurology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Bernard Cohen
- Division of Pediatric Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Eric H. Kossoff
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Johns Hopkins Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Tomoyuki Mizuno
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Matthew Ryan
- Department of Neuropsychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jacqueline Sievers
- Clinical Trials Compliance and Quality Assurance, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Lindsay Smegal
- Department of Neurology, Hugo Moser Kennedy Krieger Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Stacy J. Suskauer
- Johns Hopkins Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.,Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA,Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Cameron Thomas
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Department of Neurology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Alexander Vinks
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - T. Andrew Zabel
- Department of Neuropsychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Adrienne M. Hammill
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Division of Hematology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH USA
| | - Anne M. Comi
- Department of Neurology, Hugo Moser Kennedy Krieger Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Johns Hopkins Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.,Communications should be addressed to: Dr. Anne M. Comi; Department of Neurology, Hugo Moser Kennedy Krieger Research Institute,801 N. Broadway; Baltimore, MD, 21205. (A.M. Comi)
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20
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Raucci U, Pietrafusa N, Paolino MC, Di Nardo G, Villa MP, Pavone P, Terrin G, Specchio N, Striano P, Parisi P. Cannabidiol Treatment for Refractory Epilepsies in Pediatrics. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:586110. [PMID: 33117180 PMCID: PMC7550750 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.586110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabis extracts in oil are becoming increasingly available, and, during the last years, there has been growing public and scientific interest about therapeutic properties of these compounds for the treatment of several neurologic diseases, not just epilepsy. The discovered role of the endocannabinoid system in epileptogenesis has provided the basis to investigate the pharmacological use of exogenously produced cannabinoids, to treat epilepsy. Although, physicians show reluctance to recommend Cannabis extracts given the lack of high-quality safety available data, from literature data cannabidiol (CBD) results to be a promising and safe anticonvulsant drug with low side-effect. In particular, according to early studies, CBD can reduce the frequency of seizures and lead to improvements in quality of life in children affected by refractory epilepsy. So, for these reasons, the detailed study of the interactions between CBD and anticonvulsant drugs (AEDs) administered simultaneously in polytherapy, is arousing increasing interest, to clarify and to assess the incidence of adverse effects and the relation between dose escalation and quality of life measures. To date, in pediatric age, CBD efficacy and safety is not supported by well-designed trials and strong scientific evidence are not available. These studies are either retrospective or small-scale observational and only during the last years Class I evidence data for a pure form of CBD have been available, as demonstrated in placebo-controlled RCTs for patients affected by Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. It is necessary to investigate CBD safety, pharmacokinetics and interaction with other AEDs alongside performing double-blinded placebo-controlled trials to obtain conclusive data on its efficacy and safety in the most frequent epilepsies in children, not just in the epileptic encephalopathy. This review was aimed to revise the available data to describe the scientific evidence for CBD in Pediatric Epilepsies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umberto Raucci
- Pediatric Emergency Department, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Pietrafusa
- Rare and Complex Epilepsy Unit, Department of Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation, Member of European Reference Network EpiCare, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Paolino
- Child Neurology, Chair of Pediatrics, NESMOS Department, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Di Nardo
- Child Neurology, Chair of Pediatrics, NESMOS Department, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Villa
- Child Neurology, Chair of Pediatrics, NESMOS Department, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Piero Pavone
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Paediatrics & Child Neuropsychiatry, Catania University, Catania, Italy
| | - Gianluca Terrin
- Department of Gynecological Obstetric and Urological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Specchio
- Rare and Complex Epilepsy Unit, Department of Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation, Member of European Reference Network EpiCare, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Pasquale Striano
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 'G. Gaslini' Institute, Genova, Italy
| | - Pasquale Parisi
- Child Neurology, Chair of Pediatrics, NESMOS Department, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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Dharmapuri S, Miller K, Klein JD. Marijuana and the Pediatric Population. Pediatrics 2020; 146:peds.2019-2629. [PMID: 32661188 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2019-2629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabinoids, the psychoactive compounds in marijuana, are one of the most commonly used substances in the United States. In this review, we summarize the impact of marijuana on child and adolescent health and discuss the implications of marijuana use for pediatric practice. We review the changing epidemiology of cannabis use and provide an update on medical use, routes of administration, synthetic marijuana and other novel products, the effect of cannabis on the developing brain, other health and social consequences of use, and issues related to marijuana legalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadhana Dharmapuri
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.,Department of Pediatrics, Cook County Health and Hospitals System, Chicago, Illinois; and
| | - Kathleen Miller
- Adolescent Medicine Fellowship Program, Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Jonathan D Klein
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois;
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Cannabidiol in treatment of refractory epileptic spasms: An open-label study. Epilepsy Behav 2020; 106:106988. [PMID: 32169600 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.106988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2019] [Revised: 02/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate clinical efficacy and safety of purified pharmaceutical cannabidiol (CBD) as an adjunctive therapy in refractory childhood-onset epileptic spasms (ES). METHODS Nine patients with ES were enrolled in an Institutional Review Board (IRB)- and Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved expanded access investigational new drug trial. Patients received plant-derived highly purified CBD in oral solution in addition to their baseline medications at an initial dosage of 5 mg/kg/day, which was increased by 5 mg/kg/day every week to an initial target dosage of 25 mg/kg/day. Seizure frequency, adverse event, and parents' subjective reports of cognitive and behavioral changes were recorded after 2 weeks and 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of CBD treatment. Responder rates (percent of patients with >50% reduction in ES frequency from baseline) were calculated. Electrographic changes were studied in relation to CBD initiation and clinical response. RESULTS Overall, the responder rates in 9 patients were 67%, 78%, 67%, 56%, 78%, 78%, and 78% after 2 weeks and 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of CBD treatment, respectively. Three out of nine patients (33%) were ES free after two months of treatment. Parents reported subjective improvements in cognitive and behavioral domains. Side effects, primarily drowsiness, were seen in 89% of patients (n = 8). Eight of the nine (89%) patients had electroencephalographic (EEG) studies prior to and after initiation of CBD. Three out of five patients (60%) had resolution in their hypsarrhythmia pattern. SIGNIFICANCE Purified pharmaceutical CBD may be an effective and safe adjunctive therapy in refractory ES and may also be associated with improvements in electrographic findings.
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Pawliuk C, Chau B, Rassekh SR, McKellar T, Siden HH. Efficacy and safety of paediatric medicinal cannabis use: A scoping review. Paediatr Child Health 2020; 26:228-233. [PMID: 34131459 DOI: 10.1093/pch/pxaa031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The use of medicinal cannabis in the paediatric age group is increasing despite the lack of evidence for its efficacy or safety. Objective To map the available evidence on the efficacy and safety of medicinal cannabis in children and adolescents. Methods We conducted a scoping review and searched six electronic databases and grey literature. A study was eligible for inclusion when it investigated the efficacy or safety of medicinal cannabis for any condition, more than half of the participants were 0 to 18 years old, and had any study design except single case reports. Results We included 36 studies in our final analysis, 32 of which investigated the efficacy or safety of cannabis in treatment-resistant epilepsy. The remaining 4 studies examined patients with cancer, dysautonomia, Epidermolysis Bullosa, and motor disorders. Conclusions There is a lack of evidence on the efficacy and safety of medicinal cannabis in most paediatric conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen Pawliuk
- Department of Paediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia
| | - Briana Chau
- Department of Paediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia
| | - S Rod Rassekh
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia
| | - Terri McKellar
- Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia
| | - Harold Hal Siden
- Department of Paediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia.,Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia
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25
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Terpenoids, Cannabimimetic Ligands, beyond the Cannabis Plant. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25071567. [PMID: 32235333 PMCID: PMC7181184 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25071567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Medicinal use of Cannabis sativa L. has an extensive history and it was essential in the discovery of phytocannabinoids, including the Cannabis major psychoactive compound—Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC)—as well as the G-protein-coupled cannabinoid receptors (CBR), named cannabinoid receptor type-1 (CB1R) and cannabinoid receptor type-2 (CB2R), both part of the now known endocannabinoid system (ECS). Cannabinoids is a vast term that defines several compounds that have been characterized in three categories: (i) endogenous, (ii) synthetic, and (iii) phytocannabinoids, and are able to modulate the CBR and ECS. Particularly, phytocannabinoids are natural terpenoids or phenolic compounds derived from Cannabis sativa. However, these terpenoids and phenolic compounds can also be derived from other plants (non-cannabinoids) and still induce cannabinoid-like properties. Cannabimimetic ligands, beyond the Cannabis plant, can act as CBR agonists or antagonists, or ECS enzyme inhibitors, besides being able of playing a role in immune-mediated inflammatory and infectious diseases, neuroinflammatory, neurological, and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as in cancer, and autoimmunity by itself. In this review, we summarize and critically highlight past, present, and future progress on the understanding of the role of cannabinoid-like molecules, mainly terpenes, as prospective therapeutics for different pathological conditions.
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26
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Vaillancourt R, Moreno M, Pouliot A, Sell E. Cannabis Use for Therapeutic Purposes by Children and Youth at a Tertiary Teaching Hospital in Canada: A Retrospective Chart Review. Can J Hosp Pharm 2020; 73:105-115. [PMID: 32362667 PMCID: PMC7182376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Régis Vaillancourt
- , OMM, CD, BPharm, PharmD, FCSHP, is with the Department of Pharmacy, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, PharmD, is with the Leslie Dan School of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, PhD, was, at the time this study was conducted, with the Department of Pharmacy, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, MD, is with the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario
| | - Maria Moreno
- , OMM, CD, BPharm, PharmD, FCSHP, is with the Department of Pharmacy, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, PharmD, is with the Leslie Dan School of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, PhD, was, at the time this study was conducted, with the Department of Pharmacy, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, MD, is with the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario
| | - Annie Pouliot
- , OMM, CD, BPharm, PharmD, FCSHP, is with the Department of Pharmacy, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, PharmD, is with the Leslie Dan School of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, PhD, was, at the time this study was conducted, with the Department of Pharmacy, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, MD, is with the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario
| | - Erick Sell
- , OMM, CD, BPharm, PharmD, FCSHP, is with the Department of Pharmacy, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, PharmD, is with the Leslie Dan School of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, PhD, was, at the time this study was conducted, with the Department of Pharmacy, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, MD, is with the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario
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Rocha L, Frías‐Soria CL, Ortiz JG, Auzmendi J, Lazarowski A. Is cannabidiol a drug acting on unconventional targets to control drug-resistant epilepsy? Epilepsia Open 2020; 5:36-49. [PMID: 32140642 PMCID: PMC7049809 DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabis has been considered as a therapeutic strategy to control intractable epilepsy. Several cannabis components, especially cannabidiol (CBD), induce antiseizure effects. However, additional information is necessary to identify the types of epilepsies that can be controlled by these components and the mechanisms involved in these effects. This review presents a summary of the discussion carried out during the 2nd Latin American Workshop on Neurobiology of Epilepsy entitled "Cannabinoid and epilepsy: myths and realities." This event was carried out during the 10th Latin American Epilepsy Congress in San José de Costa Rica (September 28, 2018). The review focuses to discuss the use of CBD as a new therapeutic strategy to control drug-resistant epilepsy. It also indicates the necessity to consider the evaluation of unconventional targets such as P-glycoprotein, to explain the effects of CBD in drug-resistant epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Rocha
- Departamento de FarmacobiologíaCentro de Investigación y de Estudios AvanzadosMéxico CityMéxico
| | | | - José G. Ortiz
- Department of Pharmacology and ToxicologySchool of MedicineUniversity of Puerto RicoSan JuanPuerto Rico
| | - Jerónimo Auzmendi
- Departamento de Bioquímica ClínicaFacultad de Farmacia y BioquímicaInstituto de Investigaciones en Fisiopatología y Bioquímica Clínica (INFIBIOC)Universidad de Buenos AiresBuenos AiresArgentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)Buenos AiresArgentina
| | - Alberto Lazarowski
- Departamento de Bioquímica ClínicaFacultad de Farmacia y BioquímicaInstituto de Investigaciones en Fisiopatología y Bioquímica Clínica (INFIBIOC)Universidad de Buenos AiresBuenos AiresArgentina
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Abstract
In recent years, cannabis has been gaining increasing interest in both the medical research and clinical fields, with regard to its therapeutic effects in various disorders. One of the major fields of interest is its role as an anticonvulsant for refractory epilepsy, especially in the pediatric population. This paper presents and discusses the current accumulated knowledge regarding artisanal cannabis and Epidiolex®, a United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved pure cannabidiol (CBD), in epilepsy management in pediatrics, by reviewing the literature and raising debate regarding further research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruria Ben-Zeev
- Pediatric Neurology Department, The Edmond and Lilly Safra Pediatric Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- E-mail:
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Efficacy and adverse event profile of cannabidiol and medicinal cannabis for treatment-resistant epilepsy: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Epilepsy Behav 2020; 102:106635. [PMID: 31731110 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.106635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2019] [Revised: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
This paper aimed to systematically examine the efficacy and adverse event (AE) profile of cannabidiol and medicinal cannabis by analyzing qualitative and meta-analytic data. We used the terms ("Cannabidiol" OR "Cannabis") AND "Epilepsy" AND ("Treatment" OR "Therapeutics") as keywords to retrieve studies indexed on PubMed, ScienceDirect, and CENTRAL databases. The inclusion criteria were as follows: clinical studies with a longitudinal observational design and intervention using cannabinoid derivatives, especially cannabidiol and medicinal cannabis, whereby some results involved the frequency of epileptic seizures. We used Cochrane Collaboration's Review Manager software (RevMan 5.1.6) for the meta-analysis and dichotomized the articles to a confidence interval of 95%. From 236 articles, we selected 16 for descriptive analysis; we selected only 4 for the meta-analysis. According to the results, a statistically meaningful effect of cannabidiol compared with placebo was observed (p < 0.00001). When comparing treatment with cannabidiol or medicinal cannabis, significance was not found for the AE profile (p = 0.74). As AEs for cannabidiol were more common under short-term than under long-term treatment (p < 0.00001), this approach was favorable in the long term. Furthermore, cannabidiol is more effective than placebo, regardless of the etiology of epileptic syndromes and dosage. Overall, the AE profile did not differ across treatments with cannabidiol or medicinal cannabis, though it did differ favorably for long-term than for short-term treatment.
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30
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Cannabis-based products for pediatric epilepsy: An updated systematic review. Seizure 2019; 75:18-22. [PMID: 31865133 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2019.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2019] [Revised: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To provide an up-to-date summary of the benefits and harms of cannabis-based products for epilepsy in children. METHODS We updated our earlier systematic review, by searching for studies published up to May 2019. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized studies (NRS) involving cannabis-based products administered to children with epilepsy. Outcomes were seizure freedom, seizure frequency, quality of life, sleep, status epilepticus, death, gastrointestinal adverse events, and emergency room visits. RESULTS Thirty-five studies, including four RCTs, have assessed the benefits and harms of cannabis-based products in pediatric epilepsy (12 since April 2018). All involved cannabis-based products as adjunctive treatment, and most involved cannabidiol. In the RCTs, there was no statistically significant difference between cannabidiol and placebo for seizure freedom (relative risk 6.77, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.36-128.38), quality of life (mean difference [MD] 0.6, 95 %CI -2.6 to 3.9), or sleep disruption (MD -0.3, 95 %CI -0.8 to 0.2). Data from both RCTs and NRS suggest that cannabidiol reduces seizure frequency and increases treatment response; however, there is an increased risk of gastrointestinal adverse events. CONCLUSION Newly available evidence supports earlier findings that cannabidiol probably reduces the frequency of seizures among children with drug-resistant epilepsy. PROSPERO CRD42018084755.
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31
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Millar S, Stone N, Bellman Z, Yates A, England T, O'Sullivan S. A systematic review of cannabidiol dosing in clinical populations. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2019; 85:1888-1900. [PMID: 31222854 PMCID: PMC6710502 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.14038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Revised: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabis-derived medicinal product with potential application in a wide-variety of contexts; however, its effective dose in different disease states remains unclear. This review aimed to investigate what doses have been applied in clinical populations, in order to understand the active range of CBD in a variety of medical contexts. METHODS Publications involving administration of CBD alone were collected by searching PubMed, EMBASE and ClinicalTrials.gov. RESULTS A total of 1038 articles were retrieved, of which 35 studies met inclusion criteria covering 13 medical contexts. Twenty-three studies reported a significant improvement in primary outcomes (e.g. psychotic symptoms, anxiety, seizures), with doses ranging between <1 and 50 mg/kg/d. Plasma concentrations were not provided in any publication. CBD was reported as well tolerated and epilepsy was the most frequently studied medical condition, with all 11 studies demonstrating positive effects of CBD on reducing seizure frequency or severity (average 15 mg/kg/d within randomised controlled trials). There was no signal of positive activity of CBD in small randomised controlled trials (range n = 6-62) assessing diabetes, Crohn's disease, ocular hypertension, fatty liver disease or chronic pain. However, low doses (average 2.4 mg/kg/d) were used in these studies. CONCLUSION This review highlights that CBD has a potential wide range of activity in several pathologies. Pharmacokinetic studies as well as conclusive phase III trials to elucidate effective plasma concentrations within medical contexts are severely lacking and highly encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- S.A. Millar
- Division of Medical Sciences and Graduate Entry Medicine, School of MedicineUniversity of Nottingham, Royal Derby HospitalDerbyUK
| | - N.L. Stone
- Division of Medical Sciences and Graduate Entry Medicine, School of MedicineUniversity of Nottingham, Royal Derby HospitalDerbyUK
| | - Z.D. Bellman
- Division of Medical Sciences and Graduate Entry Medicine, School of MedicineUniversity of Nottingham, Royal Derby HospitalDerbyUK
| | | | - T.J. England
- Division of Medical Sciences and Graduate Entry Medicine, School of MedicineUniversity of Nottingham, Royal Derby HospitalDerbyUK
| | - S.E. O'Sullivan
- Division of Medical Sciences and Graduate Entry Medicine, School of MedicineUniversity of Nottingham, Royal Derby HospitalDerbyUK
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Luat AF, Juhász C, Loeb JA, Chugani HT, Falchek SJ, Jain B, Greene-Roethke C, Amlie-Lefond C, Ball KL, Davis A, Pinto A. Neurological Complications of Sturge-Weber Syndrome: Current Status and Unmet Needs. Pediatr Neurol 2019; 98:31-38. [PMID: 31272784 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2019.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to identify the current status and major unmet needs in the management of neurological complications in Sturge-Weber syndrome. METHODS An expert panel consisting of neurologists convened during the Sturge-Weber Foundation Clinical Care Network conference in September 2018. Literature regarding current treatment strategies for neurological complications was reviewed. RESULTS Although strong evidence-based standards are lacking, the implementation of consensus-based standards of care and outcome measures to be shared across all Sturge-Weber Foundation Clinical Care Network Centers are needed. Each patient with Sturge-Weber syndrome should have an individualized seizure action plan. There is a need to determine the appropriate abortive and preventive treatment of migraine headaches in Sturge-Weber syndrome. Likewise, a better understanding and better diagnostic modalities and treatments are needed for stroke-like episodes. As behavioral problems are common, the appropriate screening tools for mental illnesses and the timing for screening should be established. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) preferably done after age one year is the primary imaging modality of choice to establish the diagnosis, although advances in MRI techniques can improve presymptomatic diagnosis to identify patients eligible for preventive drug trials. CONCLUSION We identified the unmet needs in the management of neurological complications in Sturge-Weber syndrome. We define a minimum standard brain MRI protocol to be used by Sturge-Weber syndrome centers. Future multicenter clinical trials on specific treatments of Sturge-Weber syndrome-associated neurological complications are needed. An improved national clinical database is critically needed to understand its natural course, and for retrospective and prospective measures of treatment efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee F Luat
- Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, Michigan; Department of Neurology, Wayne State University Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Csaba Juhász
- Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, Michigan; Department of Neurology, Wayne State University Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Jeffrey A Loeb
- Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Harry T Chugani
- Department of Neurology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Stephen J Falchek
- Department of Neurology, Nemours duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware; Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Badal Jain
- Department of Neurology, Nemours duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware; Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Carol Greene-Roethke
- Department of Neurology, Nemours duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware; Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | | | - Amy Davis
- Department of Neurosciences, Cook Children's Healthcare System, Forth Worth, Texas
| | - Anna Pinto
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, Massachusetts.
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Samanta D. Cannabidiol: A Review of Clinical Efficacy and Safety in Epilepsy. Pediatr Neurol 2019; 96:24-29. [PMID: 31053391 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2019.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Several new antiepileptic medicines became available for clinical use in the last two decades. However, the prognosis of epilepsy remains unchanged, with approximately one-third of patients continuing to have drug-resistant seizures. Because many of these patients are not candidates for curative epilepsy surgery, there is a need for new seizure medicines with better efficacy and safety profile. Recently, social media and public pressure sparked a renewed interest in cannabinoids, which had been used for epilepsy since ancient times. However, physicians have significant difficulty prescribing cannabinoids freely because of the paucity of sound scientific studies. Among the two most common cannabinoids, cannabidiol has better antiepileptic potential than tetrahydrocannabinol. The exact antiepileptic mechanism of cannabidiol is currently not known, but it modulates a number of endogenous systems and may have a novel anticonvulsant effect. However, it has broad drug-drug interactions with several agents, including inducer and inhibitor of CYP3A4 or CYP2C19. Cannabidiol can cause liver enzyme elevation, especially when co-administered with valproate. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved pharmaceutical-grade cannabidiol oil for two childhood-onset catastrophic epilepsies: Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. The Drug Enforcement Agency also reclassified this product as a schedule V agent. However, other cannabidiol products remain as a schedule I substance and are primarily used without regulation. Additionally, the FDA-approved pharmaceutical-grade cannabidiol oil is expensive, and insurance companies might approve this only for the designated indications. In despair, many individuals may resort to unregulated medical cannabis products in an attempt to control seizures. Rather than spontaneous treatment without medical supervision, adequate medical oversight is indicated to monitor and manage the proper dose, side effects, validity of the product, and drug-drug interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debopam Samanta
- Child Neurology Section, Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas.
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Silvestro S, Mammana S, Cavalli E, Bramanti P, Mazzon E. Use of Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Epilepsy: Efficacy and Security in Clinical Trials. Molecules 2019; 24:E1459. [PMID: 31013866 PMCID: PMC6514832 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24081459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the cannabinoids with non-psychotropic action, extracted from Cannabis sativa. CBD is a terpenophenol and it has received a great scientific interest thanks to its medical applications. This compound showed efficacy as anti-seizure, antipsychotic, neuroprotective, antidepressant and anxiolytic. The neuroprotective activity appears linked to its excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the use of CBD, in addition to common anti-epileptic drugs, in the severe treatment-resistant epilepsy through an overview of recent literature and clinical trials aimed to study the effects of the CBD treatment in different forms of epilepsy. The results of scientific studies obtained so far the use of CBD in clinical applications could represent hope for patients who are resistant to all conventional anti-epileptic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Silvestro
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Via Provinciale Palermo, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy.
| | - Santa Mammana
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Via Provinciale Palermo, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy.
| | - Eugenio Cavalli
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Via Provinciale Palermo, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy.
| | - Placido Bramanti
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Via Provinciale Palermo, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy.
| | - Emanuela Mazzon
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Via Provinciale Palermo, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy.
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Poleg S, Golubchik P, Offen D, Weizman A. Cannabidiol as a suggested candidate for treatment of autism spectrum disorder. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 89:90-96. [PMID: 30171992 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.08.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Revised: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by persistent deficits in social communication, restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities and often intellectual disabilities. ASD has a number of prevalent co-morbidities, such as sleep disorders, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and epilepsy. No effective treatment for the core symptoms of ASD is currently available. There is increasing interest in cannabinoids, especially cannabidiol (CBD), as monotherapy or add-on treatment for the core symptoms and co-morbidities of ASD. In this review we summarize the available pre-clinical and clinical data regarding the safety and effectiveness of medical cannabis, including CBD, in young ASD patients. Cannabidiol seems to be a candidate for the treatment of ASD. At present, however, there are no convincing pre-clinical or clinical data showing efficacy and safety of cannabinoid treatment in ASD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shani Poleg
- Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Tel Aviv University, Petah - Tikvah, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Pavel Golubchik
- Child and Adolescent Outpatient Clinic, Geha Mental Health Center, Petah -Tikvah, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Daniel Offen
- Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Tel Aviv University, Petah - Tikvah, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Abraham Weizman
- Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Tel Aviv University, Petah - Tikvah, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Research Unit, Geha Mental Health Center, Petah - Tikva, Israel.
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What is the role of cannabidiol in refractory epilepsy? JAAPA 2019; 32:16-18. [PMID: 30817475 DOI: 10.1097/01.jaa.0000553393.36249.df] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The FDA recently approved the first cannabidiol oral medication to treat refractory epilepsy in patients with Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. This article describes the safety and efficacy of cannabidiol treatment in patients with refractory epilepsy.
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Halbmeijer N, Groeneweg M, De Ridder L. Cannabis, a potential treatment option in pediatric IBD? Still a long way to go. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2019; 12:355-361. [PMID: 30767696 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2019.1582330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The onset of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children is rising. Current treatment options are based on immunomodulatory therapy. Alternative treatment options are upcoming since they appear to be effective in individual patients. Cannabis might relief IBD symptoms in these cases and improve quality of life. Recent evidence suggests a potential anti-inflammatory effect of cannabis. Areas covered: This review presents an overview of recent literature on the use of cannabis in IBD focussing on pediatric IBD patients. Background information on the role of the endocannabinoid system within the gastrointestinal tract is presented. Other modalities of cannabis and its purified ingredients will be discussed as well, with attention to its applicability in children with IBD. Expert opinion: More research is needed on the efficacy and safety of cannabis in pediatric IBD. Studies are well underway, but until then the use of cannabis in pediatric IBD cannot be recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nienke Halbmeijer
- a Department of Pediatrics , Maasstad Hospital , Rotterdam , The Netherlands
| | - Michael Groeneweg
- a Department of Pediatrics , Maasstad Hospital , Rotterdam , The Netherlands
| | - Lissy De Ridder
- b Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology , Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital , Rotterdam , The Netherlands
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Dale T, Downs J, Olson H, Bergin AM, Smith S, Leonard H. Cannabis for refractory epilepsy in children: A review focusing on CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder. Epilepsy Res 2019; 151:31-39. [PMID: 30771550 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2019.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Severe paediatric epilepsies such as CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder (CDD) are extremely debilitating, largely due to the early-onset and refractory nature of the seizures. Existing treatment options are often ineffective and associated with a host of adverse effects, causing those that are affected to seek alternative treatments. Cannabis based products have attracted significant attention over recent years, primarily driven by reports of miraculous cures and a renewed public preference for 'natural' therapies, thus placing intense pressure on health professionals and the government for regulatory change. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the potential role for cannabis in the treatment of CDD. Key areas discussed include the history, mechanism of action, efficacy and safety of cannabis based preparations as well as the burden related to CDD. The evidence supports the use of cannabinoids, especially cannabidiol, in similar forms of refractory epilepsy including Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes. Evidence for cannabinoids specifically in CDD is limited but growing, with multiple anecdotal reports and an open-label trial showing cannabidiol to be associated with a significant reduction in seizure activity. This review provides the first comprehensive overview of the potential role for cannabis based preparations in the treatment of CDD and provides justification for further clinical and observational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan Dale
- UWA Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia(1); Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia(2).
| | - Jenny Downs
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia(2); School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia(3).
| | - Heather Olson
- Department of Neurology, Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA(4).
| | - Ann Marie Bergin
- Department of Neurology, Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA(4).
| | - Stephanie Smith
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia(2).
| | - Helen Leonard
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia(2).
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Elliott J, DeJean D, Clifford T, Coyle D, Potter BK, Skidmore B, Alexander C, Repetski AE, Shukla V, McCoy B, Wells GA. Cannabis-based products for pediatric epilepsy: A systematic review. Epilepsia 2018; 60:6-19. [PMID: 30515765 DOI: 10.1111/epi.14608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Revised: 10/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the benefits and harms of cannabis-based products for pediatric epilepsy. METHODS We identified in this living systematic review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and nonrandomized studies (NRSs) involving children with epilepsy treated with cannabis-based products. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, and gray literature (April 25, 2018). The primary outcome was seizure freedom; secondary outcomes were seizure frequency (total, ≥50% reduction), quality of life, sleep, status epilepticus, death, gastrointestinal adverse events, and visits to the emergency room. Data were pooled by random-effects meta-analysis. Risk of bias was assessed for each study, and GRADE was used to assess the quality of evidence for each outcome. RESULTS Four RCTs and 19 NRSs were included, primarily involving cannabidiol. All RCTs were at low risk of bias, whereas all NRSs were at high risk. Among RCTs, there was no statistically significant difference between cannabidiol and placebo in seizure freedom (relative risk [RR] = 6.77, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.36-128.38; 1 RCT), quality of life (mean difference = 0.6, 95% CI = -2.6 to 3.9; 3 RCTs), sleep disruption (mean difference = -0.3, 95% CI = -0.8 to 0.2; 3 RCTs), or vomiting (RR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.51-1.96; 4 RCTs). There was a statistically significant reduction in the median frequency of monthly seizures with cannabidiol compared with placebo (-19.8%, 95% CI = -27.0% to -12.6%; 3 RCTs) and an increase in the number of participants with at least a 50% reduction in seizures (RR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.07-2.88; 1 RCT) and diarrhea (RR = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.38-3.68; 3 RCTs). Death and status epilepticus were infrequently reported. SIGNIFICANCE Evidence from high-quality RCTs suggests that cannabidiol probably reduces seizures among children with drug-resistant epilepsy (moderate certainty). At this time, the evidence base is primarily limited to cannabidiol, and these findings should not be extended to all cannabis-based products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse Elliott
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Deirdre DeJean
- Centre for Health Law, Policy, and Ethics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tammy Clifford
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Doug Coyle
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Beth K Potter
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Becky Skidmore
- Independent Information Specialist, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Vijay Shukla
- Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Bláthnaid McCoy
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Division of Neurology, Hospital for Sick Children Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - George A Wells
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Kerai A, Sim TF, Emmerton L. Medical cannabis: A needs analysis for people with epilepsy. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2018; 33:43-48. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2018] [Revised: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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41
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Cannabinoid signalling in the immature brain: Encephalopathies and neurodevelopmental disorders. Biochem Pharmacol 2018; 157:85-96. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2018.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Schonhofen P, Bristot IJ, Crippa JA, Hallak JEC, Zuardi AW, Parsons RB, Klamt F. Cannabinoid-Based Therapies and Brain Development: Potential Harmful Effect of Early Modulation of the Endocannabinoid System. CNS Drugs 2018; 32:697-712. [PMID: 30109642 DOI: 10.1007/s40263-018-0550-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid retrograde signaling pathway is widely expressed in the central nervous system, where it plays major roles in regulating synaptic plasticity (excitatory and inhibitory) through long-term potentiation and long-term depression. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) components-cannabinoid receptors, endocannabinoids and synthesis/degradation enzymes-are expressed and are functional from early developmental stages and throughout adolescent cortical development, regulating progenitor cell fate, neural differentiation, migration and survival. This may potentially confer increased vulnerability to adverse outcomes from early cannabinoid exposure. Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the most studied exogenous cannabinoids, and CBD-enriched Cannabis extracts have been widely (and successfully) used as adjuvants to treat children with refractory epilepsy, and there is even a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug with purified CBD derived from Cannabis. However, there is insufficient information on possible long-term changes in the central nervous system caused by cannabinoid treatments during early childhood. Like the majority of cannabinoids, CBD is able to exert its effects directly and indirectly through the ECS, which can perturb the regulatory processes mediated by this system. In addition, CBD has a large number of non-endocannabinoid targets, which can explain CBD's effects. Here, we review the current knowledge about CBD-based therapies-pure and CBD-enriched Cannabis extracts-in studies with pediatric patients, their side effects, and their mechanisms of action regarding the central nervous system and neurodevelopment aspects. Since Cannabis extracts contain Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), we consider that pure CBD is possibly safer for young patients. Nevertheless, CBD, as well as other natural and/or synthetic cannabinoids, should be studied in more detail as a therapeutic alternative to CBD-enriched Cannabis extracts for young patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Schonhofen
- Laboratory of Cellular Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, ICBS/UFRGS, 2600 Ramiro Barcelos St, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, ICBS/UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil
- National Institutes of Science and Technology-Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Ivi Juliana Bristot
- Laboratory of Cellular Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, ICBS/UFRGS, 2600 Ramiro Barcelos St, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, ICBS/UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil
- National Institutes of Science and Technology-Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - José Alexandre Crippa
- National Institutes of Science and Technology-Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Neuroscience and Behavior Department, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Jaime Eduardo Cecílio Hallak
- National Institutes of Science and Technology-Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Neuroscience and Behavior Department, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Antônio Waldo Zuardi
- National Institutes of Science and Technology-Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Neuroscience and Behavior Department, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Richard B Parsons
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London (KCL), London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Fábio Klamt
- Laboratory of Cellular Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, ICBS/UFRGS, 2600 Ramiro Barcelos St, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil.
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, ICBS/UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil.
- National Institutes of Science and Technology-Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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44
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Chen K, Farrar MA, Cardamone M, Lawson JA. Cannabis for paediatric epilepsy: challenges and conundrums. Med J Aust 2018; 208:132-136. [DOI: 10.5694/mja17.00699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Michelle A Farrar
- Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, Sydney, NSW
- UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW
| | - Michael Cardamone
- Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, Sydney, NSW
- UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW
| | - John A Lawson
- Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, Sydney, NSW
- UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW
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Prospects of Cannabidiol for Easing Status Epilepticus-Induced Epileptogenesis and Related Comorbidities. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 55:6956-6964. [PMID: 29372545 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-0898-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The hippocampus is one of the most susceptible regions in the brain to be distraught with status epilepticus (SE) induced injury. SE can occur from numerous causes and is more frequent in children and the elderly population. Administration of a combination of antiepileptic drugs can abolish acute seizures in most instances of SE but cannot prevent the morbidity typically seen in survivors of SE such as cognitive and mood impairments and spontaneous recurrent seizures. This is primarily due to the inefficiency of antiepileptic drugs to modify the evolution of SE-induced initial precipitating injury into a series of epileptogenic changes followed by a state of chronic epilepsy. Chronic epilepsy is typified by spontaneous recurrent seizures, cognitive dysfunction, and depression, which are associated with persistent inflammation, significantly waned neurogenesis, and abnormal synaptic reorganization. Thus, alternative approaches that are efficient not only for curtailing SE-induced initial brain injury, neuroinflammation, aberrant neurogenesis, and abnormal synaptic reorganization but also for thwarting or restraining the progression of SE into a chronic epileptic state are needed. In this review, we confer the promise of cannabidiol, an active ingredient of Cannabis sativa, for preventing or easing SE-induced neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, cognitive and mood impairments, and the spontaneous recurrent seizures.
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Brodie MJ, Ben-Menachem E. Cannabinoids for epilepsy: What do we know and where do we go? Epilepsia 2017; 59:291-296. [DOI: 10.1111/epi.13973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Perucca E. Cannabinoids in the Treatment of Epilepsy: Hard Evidence at Last? J Epilepsy Res 2017; 7:61-76. [PMID: 29344464 PMCID: PMC5767492 DOI: 10.14581/jer.17012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The interest in cannabis-based products for the treatment of refractory epilepsy has skyrocketed in recent years. Marijuana and other cannabis products with high content in Δ(9) - tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), utilized primarily for recreational purposes, are generally unsuitable for this indication, primarily because THC is associated with many undesired effects. Compared with THC, cannabidiol (CBD) shows a better defined anticonvulsant profile in animal models and is largely devoid of adverse psychoactive effects and abuse liability. Over the years, this has led to an increasing use of CBD-enriched extracts in seizure disorders, particularly in children. Although improvement in seizure control and other benefits on sleep and behavior have been often reported, interpretation of the data is made difficult by the uncontrolled nature of these observations. Evidence concerning the potential anti-seizure efficacy of cannabinoids reached a turning point in the last 12 months, with the completion of three high-quality placebo-controlled adjunctive-therapy trials of a purified CBD product in patients with Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. In these studies, CBD was found to be superior to placebo in reducing the frequency of convulsive (tonic-clonic, tonic, clonic, and atonic) seizures in patients with Dravet syndrome, and the frequency of drop seizures in patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. For the first time, there is now class 1 evidence that adjunctive use of CBD improves seizure control in patients with specific epilepsy syndromes. Based on currently available information, however, it is unclear whether the improved seizure control described in these trials was related to a direct action of CBD, or was mediated by drug interactions with concomitant medications, particularly a marked increased in plasma levels of N-desmethylclobazam, the active metabolite of clobazam. Clarification of the relative contribution of CBD to improved seizure outcome requires re-assessment of trial data for the subgroup of patients not comedicated with clobazam, or the conduction of further studies controlling for the confounding effect of this interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio Perucca
- Division of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology, Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- C. Mondino National Neurological Institute, Pavia, Italy
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Wong SS, Wilens TE. Medical Cannabinoids in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review. Pediatrics 2017; 140:peds.2017-1818. [PMID: 29061872 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2017-1818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT Legalization of medical marijuana in many states has led to a widening gap between the accessibility and the evidence for cannabinoids as a medical treatment. OBJECTIVE To systematically review published reports to identify the evidence base of cannabinoids as a medical treatment in children and adolescents. DATA SOURCES Based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, a search of PubMed, Medline, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases was conducted in May 2017. STUDY SELECTION Searching identified 2743 citations, and 103 full texts were reviewed. DATA EXTRACTION Searching identified 21 articles that met inclusion criteria, including 22 studies with a total sample of 795 participants. Five randomized controlled trials, 5 retrospective chart reviews, 5 case reports, 4 open-label trials, 2 parent surveys, and 1 case series were identified. RESULTS Evidence for benefit was strongest for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, with increasing evidence of benefit for epilepsy. At this time, there is insufficient evidence to support use for spasticity, neuropathic pain, posttraumatic stress disorder, and Tourette syndrome. LIMITATIONS The methodological quality of studies varied, with the majority of studies lacking control groups, limited by small sample size, and not designed to test for the statistical significance of outcome measures. Studies were heterogeneous in the cannabinoid composition and dosage and lacked long-term follow-up to identify potential adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS Additional research is needed to evaluate the potential role of medical cannabinoids in children and adolescents, especially given increasing accessibility from state legalization and potential psychiatric and neurocognitive adverse effects identified from studies of recreational cannabis use.
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De Caro C, Leo A, Citraro R, De Sarro C, Russo R, Calignano A, Russo E. The potential role of cannabinoids in epilepsy treatment. Expert Rev Neurother 2017; 17:1069-1079. [PMID: 28845714 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2017.1373019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Epilepsy is one of the world's oldest recognized and prevalent neurological diseases. It has a great negative impact on patients' quality of life (QOL) as a consequence of treatment resistant seizures in about 30% of patients together with drugs' side effects and comorbidities. Therefore, new drugs are needed and cannabinoids, above all cannabidiol, have recently gathered attention. Areas covered: This review summarizes the scientific data from human and animal studies on the major cannabinoids which have been of interest in the treatment of epilepsy, including drugs acting on the endocannabinoid system. Expert commentary: Despite the fact that cannabis has been used for many purposes over 4 millennia, the development of drugs based on cannabinoids has been very slow. Only recently, research has focused on their potential effects and CBD is the first treatment of this group with clinical evidence of efficacy in children with Dravet syndrome; moreover, other studies are currently ongoing to confirm its effectiveness in patients with epilepsy. On the other hand, it will be of interest to understand whether drugs acting on the endocannabinoid system will be able to reach the market and prove their known preclinical efficacy also in patients with epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen De Caro
- a Department of Science of Health, School of Medicine and Surgery , University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro , Catanzaro , Italy
| | - Antonio Leo
- a Department of Science of Health, School of Medicine and Surgery , University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro , Catanzaro , Italy
| | - Rita Citraro
- a Department of Science of Health, School of Medicine and Surgery , University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro , Catanzaro , Italy
| | - Caterina De Sarro
- a Department of Science of Health, School of Medicine and Surgery , University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro , Catanzaro , Italy
| | - Roberto Russo
- b Department of Pharmacy , University of Naples Federico II , Naples , Italy
| | - Antonio Calignano
- b Department of Pharmacy , University of Naples Federico II , Naples , Italy
| | - Emilio Russo
- a Department of Science of Health, School of Medicine and Surgery , University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro , Catanzaro , Italy
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Wong SS, Wilens TE. Medical Marijuana in Children and Adolescents: An Updated Review for Psychopharmacologists. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1521/capn.2017.22.4.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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