title: Cannabinoid hyperemesis and the cyclic vomiting syndrome in adults: recognition, diagnosis, acute and long-term treatment.
abstract: The cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) and the cyclic vomiting syndrome in adults (CVS) are both characterized by recurrent episodes of heavy nausea, vomiting and frequently abdominal pain. Both syndromes are barely known among physicians. Literature is inconsistent concerning clinical features which enable differentiation between CVS and CHS. We performed a literature review using the LIVIVO search portal for life sciences to develop a pragmatic approach towards these two syndromes. Our findings indicate that complete and persistent resolution of all symptoms of the disease following cannabis cessation is the only reliable criterion applicable to distinguish CHS from CVS. Psychiatric comorbidities (e.g. panic attacks, depression), history of migraine attacks and rapid gastric emptying may serve as supportive criteria for the diagnosis of CVS. Compulsive bathing behaviour, a clinical observation previously attributed only to CHS patients is equally present in CVS patients. Long-term follow-up is essential in order to clearly separate CHS from CVS. However, long-term follow-up of CVS and CHS cases is seldom. We provide a standard operating procedure applicable to a broad spectrum of health care facilities which addresses the major issues of CVS and CHS: awareness, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, General Hospital Luebbecke-Rahden, Rahden, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Blumentrath
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital Luebbecke-Rahden, Rahden, Germany.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dohrmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital Luebbecke-Rahden, Rahden, Germany; Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ewald
mesh_terms: D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D002186:Cannabinoids
keywords: abdominal pain; cannabinoid hyperemesis; cannabis; cyclic vomiting in adults; hot showering/hot bathing; nausea; periodic vomiting; vomiting