Top line:
Among patients with autoimmune hyperthyroidism, those who use cannabis are more likely to develop exophthalmia (a condition in which the eyes appear to protrude from the face) within a year after diagnosis. 1.9 times higher than patients who did not. However, the added risk may fade over time.
Methodology:
Researchers analyzed data from TriNetX, an electronic health record platform, for more than 36,000 patients with autoimmune hyperthyroidism between 2003 and 2023. This dataset included cannabis users (n = 783), nicotine users (n = 17,310), and controls (n = 18,093 patients who did not use any substance). Main outcomes included symptoms of thyroid eye disease (TED) and use of treatments such as teprotumumab, steroids, lid retraction repair, tarsal suturing, strabismus surgery, and orbital decompression. They used propensity matching to control for characteristics such as age, gender, race, and previous thyroidectomy or radiation ablation.
remove:
After 1 year, the incidence of proptosis was 4.1% in nicotine users, 4.1% in cannabis users, and 2.2% in controls. Cannabis users were 1.9 times more likely than controls to develop exophthalmos within 1 year (P = 0.03). The researchers observed a trend toward more TED in cannabis users than in the control group, but the difference was no longer statistically significant. Cannabis users were approximately 2.5 times more likely to be prescribed steroids than controls over the two-year follow-up period.
actual:
“These findings suggest that cannabis use may be associated with earlier progression or short-term severity of TED symptoms,” the study authors wrote. The mechanisms may be similar to those of smoking and may include inflammation and blood vessel congestion, the researchers added.
sauce:
The study was conducted by Amanda M. Zorn and Anne Vermettler, MD, of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. This article was published online in Opharmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery on August 28, 2024.
Limitations:
The researchers noted that the number of cannabis users was relatively small and only included patients who had a diagnosis of cannabis use disorder before their diagnosis of autoimmune hyperthyroidism. Because TED does not have a specific International Classification of Diseases –10 code, the use of indirect measures was necessary. “Furthermore, the dataset used did not include the method of cannabis and nicotine administration, duration, or frequency of use, limiting analysis of the degree of association and modifiable risks,” the researchers wrote. I'm writing.
Disclosure:
The researchers disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
This article was created using several editing tools, including AI as part of the process. A human editor reviewed this content before publication.
