The use of medical cannabis in pediatric palliative care: a case series

Italian Journal of Pediatrics

Antuan Divisic¹  Franca Benini¹  Valentina De Tommasi¹  Irene Avagnina¹  Anna Santini¹  Luca Giacomelli²  Laura Brogelli² 

[1] Pediatric Pain and Palliative Care Service, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University Hospital, Padova, Italy;Polistudium Srl, Milan, Italy;

关键词: cannabis;    D9-tetrahydrocannabinol;    Cannabidiol;    Pediatric palliative care;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13052-021-01179-1

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMedical cannabis may be a useful tool for managing treatment-resistant epilepsy and chronic pain, which affect many patients in pediatric palliative care (PPC); however, little evidence is available in this setting.Case presentationWe aimed to describe a clinical experience in a setting where high-level evidence may not be obtained. We report our clinical experience in a pediatric palliative care department in Italy. Caregivers reported changes in intensity and frequency of pain and epilepsy events. Six patients received a titrated plant extract of cannabis sativa for 1 year. Only mild and transient adverse events occurred: drowsiness, euphoria, restlessness and tachycardia; the resolution was either spontaneous or obtained by modifying the administration schedule. Treatment was never discontinued. No overdoses occurred. All patients experienced seizures during the pre-treatment observation period, and obtained a reduction in seizure frequency, although with variable extent while receiving cannabis. In addition, a benefit on pain was observed, based on the caregiver’s evaluation, and a reduction of analgesic use.ConclusionOur experience suggests that a titrated plant extract preparation of medical cannabis may be useful to control treatment-resistant pain and epilepsy in PPC patients.

【 授权许可】

CC BY