Patient Reported Outcomes of Medical Cannabis for Managing Pain in Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease

Background and aims

Chronic pain is a major part of the disease burden in Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. Current pharmacotherapies to manage symptoms of CMT disease, particularly pain, are inadequate. This exploratory study examined the patient reported efficacy of medical cannabis among CMT patients.

Methods

Participants (N = 56; 71.4% female; Age = 48.9, SD = 14.6; 48.5% CMT1) were recruited though the Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation’s Global Registry for Inherited Neuropathies. The online survey contained 52 multiple choice questions about demographics, medical cannabis use, symptomology, efficacy, and adverse effects.

Results

When asked about how much relief they experience from using cannabis as a method of symptom relief, respondents reported an average of 69.6% (SEM <underline>+</underline> 2.6). Women were more likely to report experiencing pain than men (p < .05). Participants who perceived support from their providers were more likely to inform them of their cannabis use (p < .05).

Interpretation

Patients reported that cannabis was effective to manage symptoms. More prospective and controlled research needs to be conducted to better serve and optimize the potential use of cannabis to treat CMT.

Graphical Abstract

Patient Reported Outcomes of Medical Cannabis for Managing Pain in Patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease

Priscilla C. Canals, Alexia G. Aguilar, Gregory T. Carter, Marion McNabb, Andrew M. Westerkamp, Miyabe Shields, Meg D’Elia, Joy Aldrich, Robert N. Moore, Allison T. Moore, Brian J. Piper^*

• There is no prior research of medical cannabis experiences among Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) patients.

• CMT patients (N=56) were recruited though the Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation’s Global Registry for Inherited Neuropathies and completed an online survey.

• Symptom relief from using cannabis was moderately-high (70% <underline>+</underline> 3).

• CMT patients that received support from their providers were significantly more likely to inform them of their cannabis use.

• These descriptive results should be verified using prospective and randomized controlled trials.