Medical cannabis for inflammatory bowel disease: real-life experience of mode of consumption and assessment of side-effects.

OBJECTIVE: Use of medical cannabis for improving symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease is increasing. However, reports on long-term outcomes are lacking. This prospective, observational study assessed the effects of licensed cannabis use among patients with inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS: Dose and mode of consumption, adverse events, use of other medications, and long-term effects were evaluated among 127 patients with inflammatory bowel disease using legalized medical cannabis. Blood count, albumin, and C-reactive protein were assessed before, 1 month, and at least 1 year after medical cannabis therapy was initiated. Questionnaires on disease activity, patient function, and signs of addiction were completed by patients and by a significant family member to assess its effects. RESULTS: The average dose used was 31 ± 15 g/month. The average Harvey-Bradshaw index improved from 14 ± 6.7 to 7 ± 4.7 (P < 0.001) during a median follow-up of 44 months (interquartile range, 24-56 months). There was a slight, but statistically significant, average weight gain of 2 kg within 1 year of cannabis use. The need for other medications was significantly reduced. Employment among patients increased from 65 to 74% (P < 0.05). We conclude that the majority of inflammatory bowel disease patients using cannabis are satisfied with a dose of 30 g/month. We did not observe negative effects of cannabis use on the patients' social or occupational status. CONCLUSIONS: Cannabis use by inflammatory bowel disease patients can induce clinical improvement and is associated with reduced use of medication and slight weight gain. Most patients respond well to a dose of 30 g/month, or 21 mg Δ9-tetra- hydrocannabinol (THC) and 170 mg Cannabidiol (CBD) per day.

Burden of gastrointestinal disease in the United States: 2012 update.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases account for substantial morbidity, mortality, and cost. Statistical analyses of the most recent data are necessary to guide GI research, education, and clinical practice. We estimate the burden of GI disease in the United States. METHODS: We collected information on the epidemiology of GI diseases (including cancers) and symptoms, along with data on resource utilization, quality of life, impairments to work and activity, morbidity, and mortality. These data were obtained from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey; National Health and Wellness Survey; Nationwide Inpatient Sample; Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program; National Vital Statistics System; Thompson Reuters MarketScan; Medicare; Medicaid; and the Clinical Outcomes Research Initiative's National Endoscopic Database. We estimated endoscopic use and costs and examined trends in endoscopic procedure. RESULTS: Abdominal pain was the most common GI symptom that prompted a clinic visit (15.9 million visits). Gastroesophageal reflux was the most common GI diagnosis (8.9 million visits). Hospitalizations and mortality from Clostridium difficile infection have doubled in the last 10 years. Acute pancreatitis was the most common reason for hospitalization (274,119 discharges). Colorectal cancer accounted for more than half of all GI cancers and was the leading cause of GI-related mortality (52,394 deaths). There were 6.9 million upper, 11.5 million lower, and 228,000 biliary endoscopies performed in 2009. The total cost for outpatient GI endoscopy examinations was $32.4 billion. CONCLUSIONS: GI diseases are a source of substantial morbidity, mortality, and cost in the United States.

Increased colonic pain sensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome is the result of an increased tendency to report pain rather than increased neurosensory sensitivity.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to determine whether lower visceral pain thresholds in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) primarily reflect physiological or psychological factors. METHODS: Firstly, 121 IBS patients and 28 controls underwent balloon distensions in the descending colon using the ascending methods of limits (AML) to assess pain and urge thresholds. Secondly, sensory decision theory analysis was used to separate physiological from psychological components of perception: neurosensory sensitivity (p(A)) was measured by the ability to discriminate between 30 mm Hg vs 34 mm Hg distensions; psychological influences were measured by the report criterion-that is, the overall tendency to report pain, indexed by the median intensity rating for all distensions, independent of intensity. Psychological symptoms were assessed using the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). RESULTS: IBS patients had lower AML pain thresholds (median: 28 mm Hg vs 40 mm Hg; p<0.001), but similar neurosensory sensitivity (median p(A): 0.5 vs 0.5; p = 0.69; 42.6% vs 42.9% were able to discriminate between the stimuli better than chance) and a greater tendency to report pain (median report criterion: 4.0 ("mild" pain) vs 5.2 ("weak" pain); p = 0.003). AML pain thresholds were not correlated with neurosensory sensitivity (r = -0.13; p = 0.14), but were strongly correlated with report criterion (r = 0.67; p<0.0001). Report criterion was inversely correlated with BSI somatisation (r = -0.26; p = 0.001) and BSI global score (r = -0.18; p = 0.035). Similar results were seen for the non-painful sensation of urgency. CONCLUSION: Increased colonic sensitivity in IBS is strongly influenced by a psychological tendency to report pain and urge rather than increased neurosensory sensitivity.

The burden of gastrointestinal and liver diseases, 2006.

BACKGROUND: Digestive and liver diseases are a source of significant morbidity, mortality, and health-care costs for the U.S. population. An annual report of the toll of these diseases could be helpful to clinicians, policymakers, and researchers. AIM: To describe the epidemiology of gastrointestinal and liver diseases in the United States using data from privately and publicly held databases. METHODS: We collected data from the National Center for Health Statistics, the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, the National Inpatient Sample, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Cancer Institute, as well as proprietary pharmaceutical databases to construct a report on the impact of gastrointestinal and liver diseases on the U.S. population. We compiled information on causes of death, hospitalization, clinic visits, cancer incidence, and mortality and infectious disease incidence from these databases, and extracted data specific to gastrointestinal diseases. Because of the high costs associated with medications used to treat gastrointestinal diseases, we also include in this year's report a special section on pharmacoepidemiology and pharmacoeconomics. RESULTS: Colorectal cancer continues to be the leading cause of GI-related death, although the data indicate a downward trend in deaths. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea are the most common GI symptoms precipitating a visit to the physician, and GERD is the most common GI-related diagnosis given in office visits. Chest pain not specified to be cardiac in origin is the most common cause of inpatient admission possibly related to GI disease, with cholelithiasis and pancreatitis following. Americans spend in excess of US dollars 10 billion/yr on proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), and two of the top five selling drugs in the United States are PPIs. Trends in PPI use demonstrate turbulent changes, likely reflecting both new drug entries into the field, as well as drug marketing. The number of PPI prescriptions/yr in the United States has doubled since 1999. Twenty-three drugs used for gastrointestinal diseases are among the top 200 generic drugs used in the United States. CONCLUSIONS: Gastrointestinal and liver diseases are significant contributors to the morbidity, mortality, and health-care expenditures of the U.S. population.