Multiple Sclerosis; Study results from Hospital Del Mar

2008 NOV 3 - (<http://www.newsrx.com> NewsRx.com) -- A report, 'Cannabis use in Spanish patients with multiple sclerosis: fulfilment of patients' expectations,' is newly published data in Journal of the Neurological Sciences (see also <http://www.newsrx.com/library/topics/Multiple-Sclerosis.html> Multiple Sclerosis). According to recent research from Barcelona, Spain, "Medicinal use of cannabis in chronic neurological diseases is a controversial topic of medical research and the subject of intense public debate. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of cannabis use, related factors, and degree of satisfaction in Spanish patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) prior to the establishment of medically supervised use."

"Cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey provided during routine medical visits to consecutive patients in two university-based neurology clinics. The questionnaire was returned by 175 MS patients (94.1% response rate). The prevalence of ever-use and medicinal cannabis use were 43% and 17.1%, respectively. At the time of the survey, cannabis was being used by 12.5% (5/45) of recreational and 56.7% (17/30) of medical users (p <0.001). First cannabis consumption was after MS onset in 15 (50%) medicinal users. Clinical improvement was reported by 14 (46.7%) medicinal users. Smoking use, awareness of cannabis potential benefits, pain, higher disability, and lower age were independently associated with the medicinal use of cannabis. Most patients would support a future legalisation of cannabis for the control of their symptoms and were willing to receive cannabis under medical control once legalised (83.4% of never-users, 94.5% of ever-users, p<0.05). Almost half of our MS patients had tried cannabis at some time. However, medicinal use was low and clinical improvement after cannabis use was only reported by a subset of patients," wrote J.E. Martinez-Rodriguez and colleagues, Hospital del Mar.

The researchers concluded: "Overall, MS patients were highly motivated for a future medically controlled use."

Martinez-Rodriguez and colleagues published their study in the Journal of the Neurological Sciences (Cannabis use in Spanish patients with multiple sclerosis: fulfilment of patients' expectations? Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 2008;273(1-2):103-7).

For additional information, contact J.E. Martinez-Rodriguez, Hospital del Mar, Neurology Service, Institut Municipal d'Investigacio Medica (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain.

Publisher contact information for the Journal of the Neurological Sciences is: Elsevier Science BV, PO Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Keywords: Spain, Barcelona, Multiple Sclerosis, Neuroimmunology, Neurological Disease, Neurology, Urology.

This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via <http://www.newsrx.com> NewsRx.com.