Objective: To estimate the safety and efficacy of Cannabis treatment in HD patients.

Background: Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative progressive disorder inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. Patients with HD usually suffer from movement disorders, cognitive decline, and psychiatric symptoms. To date, no disease-modifying drugs are available, and current treatments are solely symptomatic. An overall improvement in chorea and in neuropsychiatric symptoms was reported following cannabis treatment in several studies both in humans and in murine models.

Method: Patients’ medical records of n=150 HD patients followed in the HD clinic were reviewed by a certified HD specialist. Indications for treatment, UHDRS and MoCA scores, and adverse events related to treatment were extrapolated.

Results: Out of 150 patients, n=19 (mean age 51.7±12.8, m:f 1.3:1, years of disease duration 9±5.01, CAG repeats number 44.4±3.1) were treated with cannabis. Most common indications were sleep disorders (n=8,42%), chorea (n=8,42%) and behavioral abnormalities (n=6,31.5%). Symptomatic improvement was reported in n=18 (94%) patients. All patients adhered to cannabis treatment, as no adverse events were recorded. One patient died as a result of Covid-19 infection.

Conclusion: Based on the current findings, cannabis treatment in HD seems to be safe and effective for subjective symptomatic relief. Cannabis use was not associated with disease exacerbation including psychotic symptoms. A double-blind randomized controlled trial is requires to further assess the objective efficacy.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/cannabis-treatment-in-patients-with-huntingtons-disease-in-a-clinic-cohort-was-safe-and-effective/