Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome affected 1.6% of patients with unexplained abdominal pain in French ERs
Among nearly 2,850 patients presenting to two French emergency departments with unexplained abdominal pain, 48 (1.6%) met criteria for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, with hot showers being the most effective treatment.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
CHS patients used cannabis daily and spent significantly more hours in emergency departments (11 vs. 6.5 hours) with more frequent visits (4.9 vs. 3). Hot showers were the most effective symptom relief in 54.2% of cases. Follow-up was limited, and cannabis cessation was difficult to implement.
Key Numbers
Target population: 2,848 patients. CHS cases: 48 (1.6%). All 48 used cannabis daily. Hot shower effective: 54.2%. Mean ED hours with CHS: 11 vs. 6.5. Mean ED visits: 4.9 vs. 3. Hospitalized: 20.3%.
How They Did This
Prospective cohort study recruiting patients with unexplained abdominal pain syndrome from two Marseille hospital emergency departments (October 2017 to July 2018). CHS was defined as chronic cannabis use with nausea and vomiting per Simonetto criteria.
Why This Research Matters
This is one of few prospective studies quantifying CHS prevalence in emergency settings, showing it is both underrecognized and resource-intensive in terms of ED utilization.
The Bigger Picture
CHS places a disproportionate burden on emergency departments through longer visits and repeat presentations, highlighting the need for better outpatient management strategies.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Relatively small CHS cohort (48 patients). Limited to two hospitals in one French city. Follow-up was limited, preventing assessment of long-term outcomes. Prospective identification depended on clinical suspicion.
Questions This Raises
- ?Why is cannabis cessation so difficult for CHS patients despite severe symptoms?
- ?Could capsaicin cream replace hot showers as a more practical treatment?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 1.6% of unexplained abdominal pain cases were cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome
- Evidence Grade:
- Prospective design with standardized diagnostic criteria strengthens findings, though limited sample size.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2021 with data from 2017-2018.
- Original Title:
- Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in two French emergency departments: a prospective cohort.
- Published In:
- Fundamental & clinical pharmacology, 35(1), 186-191 (2021)
- Authors:
- Weiss, Julie, Torrents, Romain, Verhamme, Baptiste, Roch, Antoine, Lazerges, Pierre, Jego, Maeva, Michelet, Pierre, Simon, Nicolas
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03610
Evidence Hierarchy
Enrolls participants and follows them forward in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How common is CHS in emergency departments?
In this study, 1.6% of patients presenting with unexplained abdominal pain met criteria for CHS. All were daily cannabis users.
What treatment works best for CHS?
Hot showers were the most effective symptom relief in 54.2% of cases, but the only true treatment is stopping cannabis use, which proved difficult to implement.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03610APA
Weiss, Julie; Torrents, Romain; Verhamme, Baptiste; Roch, Antoine; Lazerges, Pierre; Jego, Maeva; Michelet, Pierre; Simon, Nicolas. (2021). Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in two French emergency departments: a prospective cohort.. Fundamental & clinical pharmacology, 35(1), 186-191. https://doi.org/10.1111/fcp.12580
MLA
Weiss, Julie, et al. "Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in two French emergency departments: a prospective cohort.." Fundamental & clinical pharmacology, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1111/fcp.12580
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in two French emergency dep..." RTHC-03610. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/weiss-2021-cannabinoid-hyperemesis-syndrome-in
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.