RESUMO
In this review, we discuss the potential role of cannabis and cannabinoids in the management of cancer-related symptoms. There is limited evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of cannabis-based products in treating cancer-related pain and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Regarding the role of cannabis-based products in the treatment of insomnia and mood disorders, most studies looked at these symptoms as secondary outcomes with mixed results. Cannabis-based products have adverse effects, ranging from neuropsychiatric to systemic effects to potential drug interactions.
RESUMO
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, to date, around 385 million cases have been diagnosed worldwide leading to an estimated 5.7 million death toll. Mass vaccination campaigns have been conducted to control the spread of infection with the most commonly used vaccines being Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. However, the adverse effects of vaccination have not yet been fully investigated. Of concern are some serious cardiovascular events such as myocarditis, pericarditis, or perimyocarditis development post-vaccination. Hemorrhagic pericardial effusion has not been reported. However, we report a case of myopericarditis with a hemorrhagic pericardial effusion that developed two weeks following BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. We performed a complete workup identifying the underlying cause that did not yield any significant findings. Our patient was treated with colchicine and ibuprofen, and he made a full recovery. A follow-up cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) showed no signs of active inflammation.
RESUMO
COVID-19 is a respiratory viral illness that can have life threatening complications. While the short-term sequela of COVID-19, including cytokine storm, is relatively well known, the long-term complications of COVID-19 infection on the immune system is still unknown. There have been some reported cases of autoimmune disease development after COVID-19 infection. We present a patient with a history of COVID-19 infection one month prior who presented with non-specific symptoms including fatigue, malaise, bilateral lower extremity swelling and shortness of breath. His laboratory evaluation and physical exam showed him to be in acute renal failure. Further workup and kidney biopsy results confirmed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Our patient needed treatment with plasmapheresis and immunosuppressants, and subsequently had significant improvement in his symptoms. We discuss the current 2019 European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology/American College of Rheumatology (EULAR/ACR) diagnostic criteria for SLE and describe plausible mechanisms of COVID-19 induced lupus such as B-cell activation by the virus. We also explore the role of interferons in the potential development of autoimmune diseases after COVID-19 infection and highlight the need for further research in the area.
