Case Reports Link Marijuana With Increased Stroke Risk

Daniel G. Hackam, MD, PhD, FRCPC Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Daniel G. Hackam, MD, PhD, FRCPC
Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine
Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.

MedicalResearch: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Dr. Hackam: Stroke is thought to be related to marijuana use; however, this belief rests largely on case reports. These case reports have never been
evaluated by causality criteria. After performing such an analysis, I
showed that many case reports meet stringent causality criteria, and
therefore stroke is more likely to result from marijuana use.

MedicalResearch: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr. Hackam: Stroke is related to marijuana consumption. After an index stroke, consuming marijuana again is linked to recurrent stroke.

MedicalResearch: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Hackam: We badly need a large, prospective observational study to test the association of marijuana use with stroke.

Citation:

Cannabis and Stroke: Systematic Appraisal of Case Reports

Stroke. 2015;46:852-856 published online before print February 19 2015, doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.115.008680

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Daniel G. Hackam, MD, PhD, FRCPC (2015). Case Reports Link Marijuana With Increased Stroke RiskĀ 

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Last Updated on February 24, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD

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