Cannabis Dramatically Reduced Seizures in a Treatment-Resistant Epilepsy Patient, Possibly Through the Rare Cannabinoid CBDV
A patient with drug-resistant epilepsy who self-medicated with cannabis experienced dramatic seizure reduction and cognitive improvement, with blood levels suggesting the rare cannabinoid CBDV may have contributed through effects on GABA receptors.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
A patient with symptomatic partial epilepsy who had failed numerous medications and surgical treatments began self-medicating with cannabis. The clinical improvement was dramatic: seizure frequency decreased substantially and cognitive function recovered.
Blood analysis revealed significant levels of cannabidivarin (CBDV), a relatively rare minor cannabinoid, alongside CBD and THC. The clinical improvement appeared to parallel high CBDV plasma concentrations.
To investigate CBDV's potential mechanism, the researchers performed electrophysiology experiments on human hippocampal tissue from four epilepsy surgery patients. They found that prolonged CBDV exposure reduced the "rundown" of GABA-A receptor currents, essentially helping inhibitory signaling maintain its strength over time. This finding was confirmed in tissue from a patient with Rasmussen encephalitis.
This suggests CBDV may combat seizures by enhancing the brain's inhibitory GABA system, a mechanism distinct from CBD's known actions.
Key Numbers
One patient with drug-resistant partial epilepsy. Failed countless pharmacological and surgical treatments. Dramatic seizure reduction and cognitive improvement with cannabis. CBDV detected in blood. GABA-A receptor rundown reduced by CBDV exposure in tissue from 4 TLE patients and 1 RE patient.
How They Did This
Case report with clinical monitoring (EEG, seizure diaries) and serial blood cannabinoid measurements. Complementary electrophysiology experiments using human epileptic hippocampal tissue transplanted into Xenopus oocytes to test CBDV effects on GABA-A receptor currents.
Why This Research Matters
While CBD (as Epidiolex) has gained attention for epilepsy, this study suggests another cannabinoid, CBDV, may also have anticonvulsant properties through a different mechanism. If confirmed, CBDV could expand the cannabinoid toolkit for treatment-resistant epilepsy.
The Bigger Picture
The endocannabinoid system contains dozens of compounds beyond THC and CBD. This study highlights CBDV as a potentially important anticonvulsant cannabinoid with a unique mechanism of action, suggesting that the therapeutic potential of cannabis extends well beyond its most famous components.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Single case report cannot establish efficacy. The patient used whole-plant cannabis, so effects cannot be attributed solely to CBDV. The electrophysiology experiments used an artificial expression system. CBDV availability and dosing for clinical use are not established.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would purified CBDV be effective as an anticonvulsant?
- ?How does CBDV's mechanism complement CBD's for seizure control?
- ?Could cannabis varieties bred for high CBDV content be developed for epilepsy treatment?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- CBDV enhanced inhibitory GABA signaling in human epileptic brain tissue
- Evidence Grade:
- Case report with complementary basic science providing mechanistic plausibility. Novel finding but very preliminary.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2016. CBDV research for epilepsy has continued, including preclinical studies by pharmaceutical companies.
- Original Title:
- Cannabis in epilepsy: From clinical practice to basic research focusing on the possible role of cannabidivarin.
- Published In:
- Epilepsia open, 1(3-4), 145-151 (2016)
- Authors:
- Morano, Alessandra(3), Cifelli, Pierangelo(2), Nencini, Paolo, Antonilli, Letizia, Fattouch, Jinane, Ruffolo, Gabriele, Roseti, Cristina, Aronica, Eleonora, Limatola, Cristina, Di Bonaventura, Carlo, Palma, Eleonora, Giallonardo, Anna Teresa
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01229
Evidence Hierarchy
Describes what happened to one person or a small group.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What is CBDV and could it help epilepsy?
CBDV (cannabidivarin) is a rare cannabinoid related to CBD. In this study, it enhanced the brain's inhibitory signaling in human epileptic tissue, and a patient with high CBDV blood levels experienced dramatic seizure improvement.
Is CBDV different from CBD for seizures?
Yes. While both may be anticonvulsant, this study suggests CBDV works through a different mechanism (enhancing GABA receptor function) than CBD, meaning they could potentially complement each other.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01229APA
Morano, Alessandra; Cifelli, Pierangelo; Nencini, Paolo; Antonilli, Letizia; Fattouch, Jinane; Ruffolo, Gabriele; Roseti, Cristina; Aronica, Eleonora; Limatola, Cristina; Di Bonaventura, Carlo; Palma, Eleonora; Giallonardo, Anna Teresa. (2016). Cannabis in epilepsy: From clinical practice to basic research focusing on the possible role of cannabidivarin.. Epilepsia open, 1(3-4), 145-151. https://doi.org/10.1002/epi4.12015
MLA
Morano, Alessandra, et al. "Cannabis in epilepsy: From clinical practice to basic research focusing on the possible role of cannabidivarin.." Epilepsia open, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1002/epi4.12015
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis in epilepsy: From clinical practice to basic resear..." RTHC-01229. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/morano-2016-cannabis-in-epilepsy-from
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.