humulene and Cerebrovascular-Disorders

Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug, with approximately 200 million users worldwide. Once illegal throughout the United States, cannabis is now legal for medicinal purposes in several states and for recreational use in 3 states. The current wave of decriminalization may lead to more widespread use, and it is important that cardiologists be made aware of the potential for marijuana-associated adverse cardiovascular effects that may begin to occur in the population at a greater frequency. In this report, the investigators focus on the known cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and peripheral effects of marijuana inhalation. Temporal associations between marijuana use and serious adverse events, including myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac death, cardiomyopathy, stroke, transient ischemic attack, and cannabis arteritis have been described. In conclusion, the potential for increased use of marijuana in the changing legal landscape suggests the need for the community to intensify research regarding the safety of marijuana use and for cardiologists to maintain an awareness of the potential for adverse effects.

Topics: Cannabis; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Global Health; Humans; Incidence; Inhalation; Marijuana Smoking; Peripheral Vascular Diseases

A minority of alcohol abusers develop severe cerebral dysfunction in the form of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. There is also evidence to suggest that cerebral dysfunction, particularly impaired abstracting ability, occurs in that larger population of heavy drinkers who do not go on to develop the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. There is no consistent evidence that long-term marijuana, hallucinogen, or sedative use causes lasting neuropsychological disturbance. The deficits in abstract thinking reported by some LSD studies are similar to deficits others have reported among alcoholics. Since the LSD studies were not controlled for alcohol use, their interpretation is difficult. It appears that cerebrovascular accidents occur more frequently and at a younger age among amphetamine abusers. There is no reliable information about possible other long-term effects of stimulants on the brain per se (i.e., nonvascular complications). Abuse of intravenous narcotics has been associated with case reports of transverse myelitis and encephalitis. It is not known whether this pathology is a direct or hypersensitivity effect of narcotic drugs, of adulterants, or of infection.

Topics: Alcoholism; Amphetamines; Barbiturates; Brain Diseases; Cannabis; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Cocaine; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Lysergic Acid Diethylamide; Mescaline; Methylphenidate; Narcotics; Phenmetrazine; Psilocybin; Psychological Tests; Psychoses, Alcoholic; Substance-Related Disorders

Topics: Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; Cannabis; Cerebral Veins; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Dilatation; Humans; Syndrome; Vasoconstriction

The legalization of recreational marijuana in some countries has been accompanied by an increased number of case reports of serious cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications. However, there have been few studies describing the detailed clinical course of reversible cerebral vasospasm syndrome (RCVS) associated with marijuana use. We herein report a unique case of recurrent bi-fronto-parietal subcortical (watershed) infarction in the setting of chronic daily marijuana use for several years, with evidence of bilateral anterior cerebral artery vasoconstriction. The quick resolution of symptoms with treatment and the normalization of cerebral vasoconstriction on follow-up imaging lend high certainty to the diagnosis of RCVS.

Topics: Cannabis; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Humans; Syndrome; Vasoconstriction; Vasospasm, Intracranial

Drug use is a well-kown risk factor for cerebrovascular disease in young people. Cannabis is the most widely consumed among the illicit drugs worldwide, but it has only exceptionally been associated to cerebrovascular disease.. We here describe 2 young patients (26 and 29 years, respectively) who suffered from ischemic stroke in temporal relation with cannabis consumption.. The review of the literature on this topic reveals another 18 patients with stroke in association to cannabis use. They all were young people with ischemic stroke. Although a causal relationship is difficult to establish due to the widespread use of cannabis, this drug may play an etiologic role in ischemic stroke.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Cannabis; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Humans; Male; Marijuana Smoking; Middle Aged; Review Literature as Topic; Stroke

Topics: Brain; Cannabis; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cognition Disorders; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Marijuana Abuse; Plant Preparations; Reproducibility of Results; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome

A 22-year-old man with a five-year history of drug and alcohol abuse presented with a left hemiparesis preceded by three transient ischaemic attacks, two of which occurred whilst smoking cannabis. Substance abuse was the only identifiable risk factor for cerebrovascular disease.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Cannabis; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Humans; Ischemic Attack, Transient; Lysergic Acid Diethylamide; Male; Substance-Related Disorders

Topics: Adult; Alcohol Drinking; Cannabis; Cerebral Ventricles; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Cocaine; Ethanol; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Phospholipids; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Substance-Related Disorders

Topics: Amphetamines; Barbiturates; Brain; Cannabis; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Female; Fetal Diseases; Humans; Lysergic Acid Diethylamide; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, First; Pregnancy Trimester, Second; Prenatal Diagnosis; Substance-Related Disorders