Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: A Case Report of Cyclic Severe Hyperemesis and Abdominal Pain with Long-Term Cannabis Use

Introduction. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) is a rare condition that includes cyclic severe vomiting in subjects who have been consuming large doses of cannabis for several years. One of the major diagnostic criteria is the alleviation of symptoms by hot showers. The syndrome was first desc...

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Main Authors: Julia Hermes-Laufer, Lola Del Puppo, Ihsan Inan, François-Xavier Troillet, Omar Kherad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Gastrointestinal Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/2815901
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author Julia Hermes-Laufer
Lola Del Puppo
Ihsan Inan
François-Xavier Troillet
Omar Kherad
author_facet Julia Hermes-Laufer
Lola Del Puppo
Ihsan Inan
François-Xavier Troillet
Omar Kherad
author_sort Julia Hermes-Laufer
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) is a rare condition that includes cyclic severe vomiting in subjects who have been consuming large doses of cannabis for several years. One of the major diagnostic criteria is the alleviation of symptoms by hot showers. The syndrome was first described in 2004 and is so far neither completely understood nor well known. The latter leads to continued morbidity in concerned subjects and unnecessary expenses for futile investigations. Standard treatments of vomiting as 5-HT3 or D2-receptor antagonists have been shown to be ineffective in alleviating the symptoms. The only long-term satisfying treatment option is the complete abstinence from cannabis consumption. Case Summary. In this case report we describe a 26-year-old male Caucasian long-term cannabis consumer who repeatedly presented in our emergency room with cyclic severe nausea and vomiting ceased by hot showers and resistant to all other treatments. The final diagnosis was not established until his third visit to the ER. Conclusion. CHS is an important differential diagnosis in patients who present with cyclic vomiting and abdominal pain with a history of long-term cannabis use. Recognition of this syndrome is important in order to avoid unnecessary clinical testing and to help the patients break the cycle of drug use.
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series Case Reports in Gastrointestinal Medicine
spelling doaj-art-f42e40384a8e4cb4bb8ed2d244e9aa3e2025-02-03T05:44:00ZengWileyCase Reports in Gastrointestinal Medicine2090-65282090-65362016-01-01201610.1155/2016/28159012815901Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: A Case Report of Cyclic Severe Hyperemesis and Abdominal Pain with Long-Term Cannabis UseJulia Hermes-Laufer0Lola Del Puppo1Ihsan Inan2François-Xavier Troillet3Omar Kherad4Department of Internal Medicine, Hôpital de La Tour, Avenue J.-D.-Maillard 3, 1217 Geneva, SwitzerlandDepartment of Internal Medicine, Hôpital de La Tour, Avenue J.-D.-Maillard 3, 1217 Geneva, SwitzerlandDepartment of Visceral Surgery, Clinique Générale Beaulieu, Chemin de Beau Soleil 20, 1206 Geneva, SwitzerlandDepartment of Gastroenterology, Hôpital de La Tour, Avenue J.-D.-Maillard 3, 1217 Geneva, SwitzerlandDepartment of Internal Medicine, Hôpital de La Tour, Avenue J.-D.-Maillard 3, 1217 Geneva, SwitzerlandIntroduction. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) is a rare condition that includes cyclic severe vomiting in subjects who have been consuming large doses of cannabis for several years. One of the major diagnostic criteria is the alleviation of symptoms by hot showers. The syndrome was first described in 2004 and is so far neither completely understood nor well known. The latter leads to continued morbidity in concerned subjects and unnecessary expenses for futile investigations. Standard treatments of vomiting as 5-HT3 or D2-receptor antagonists have been shown to be ineffective in alleviating the symptoms. The only long-term satisfying treatment option is the complete abstinence from cannabis consumption. Case Summary. In this case report we describe a 26-year-old male Caucasian long-term cannabis consumer who repeatedly presented in our emergency room with cyclic severe nausea and vomiting ceased by hot showers and resistant to all other treatments. The final diagnosis was not established until his third visit to the ER. Conclusion. CHS is an important differential diagnosis in patients who present with cyclic vomiting and abdominal pain with a history of long-term cannabis use. Recognition of this syndrome is important in order to avoid unnecessary clinical testing and to help the patients break the cycle of drug use.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/2815901
spellingShingle Julia Hermes-Laufer
Lola Del Puppo
Ihsan Inan
François-Xavier Troillet
Omar Kherad
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: A Case Report of Cyclic Severe Hyperemesis and Abdominal Pain with Long-Term Cannabis Use
Case Reports in Gastrointestinal Medicine
title Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: A Case Report of Cyclic Severe Hyperemesis and Abdominal Pain with Long-Term Cannabis Use
title_full Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: A Case Report of Cyclic Severe Hyperemesis and Abdominal Pain with Long-Term Cannabis Use
title_fullStr Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: A Case Report of Cyclic Severe Hyperemesis and Abdominal Pain with Long-Term Cannabis Use
title_full_unstemmed Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: A Case Report of Cyclic Severe Hyperemesis and Abdominal Pain with Long-Term Cannabis Use
title_short Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: A Case Report of Cyclic Severe Hyperemesis and Abdominal Pain with Long-Term Cannabis Use
title_sort cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome a case report of cyclic severe hyperemesis and abdominal pain with long term cannabis use
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/2815901
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