By Patients who have smoked weed are often denied potentially life-saving liver transplants. new research It shows that take-ups should not be considered a risk factor for surgery.
A study published in this month’s issue of American Journal of Medicine We examined the outcomes of liver transplantation in individuals using marijuana.
Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham said they “retrospectively investigated 111 patients who tested positive for marijuana on an early urine test.” [liver transplant] February 2016 to January 2021 evaluation,” another “100 non-marijuana users [liver transplant] Cross-matched for control. ”
“Patient demographics, substance use history, and transplant decisions were recorded. Post-LT variables were also collected up to 1 year after surgery, including postoperative infections, non-adherence, and continued substance use. A chi-square analysis was used to assess the association between pre-transplant marijuana use and post-transplant complications Logistics regression was implemented to measure association across cohorts ‘, they wrote.
Of the 111 marijuana users included in the study, 32, or 29%, received liver transplants.
The authors found that “outcomes after LT, including the incidence of cardiac, respiratory, renal, psychiatric, or neurological complications, as well as postoperative readmission rates, among marijuana users and non-marijuana users “There was no statistical difference.” Also, “There are no statistically significant associations between marijuana use and post-transplant bacterial or fungal infections, medication non-adherence, or continued substance use.”
“Our data show that marijuana is not associated with increased risk of postoperative non-compliance, other organ complications, infections, or death,” the researchers wrote in their conclusion. “As a single factor, marijuana may not need to be contraindicated. [liver transplant]”
The findings are significant in that marijuana use often prevents otherwise eligible patients from receiving liver transplants.
“Historically, agencies across the United States have considered active marijuana use as a criterion for exclusion from the list,” the authors write.
among them own writing research salon report Of the 111 patients, 32 underwent liver transplantation, but “the remaining 79 were refused for various reasons, including insurance and financial issues. One was expressly denied ‘continued marijuana use,'”11. A person who was “rejected solely for the use of cannabis.”
salon It also flagged another study published last year Journal of Clinical and Translational Researchit said, “found that marijuana use had no adverse effects on subsequent health.[liver transplant] However, ‘further studies using larger cohorts are needed,’ he said.
salon There is more context for all the research on this issue.
“All of these studies were retrospective and limited the conclusions that can be drawn. Randomized clinical trials would be a better study design but could be much more expensive and difficult to conduct.” I have.” The outlet reported. “Furthermore, it was not always possible to identify the frequency of marijuana use or the type of cannabis consumed.”
The need for marijuana-related research has also increased as cannabis use has surged in the United States and the laws governing its use have changed dramatically over the past decade.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Marijuana is “the most commonly used federal illegal drug in the United States. 48.2 million people, or about 18% of Americans, used it at least once in 2019.” It’s legal in 37 states, and recreational marijuana use is legal in 19 states.
However, cannabis remains illegal at the federal level, which often limits access to research and medical care.
