J Med Cases
Journal of Medical Cases, ISSN 1923-4155 print, 1923-4163 online, Open Access
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Case Report

Volume 11, Number 11, November 2020, pages 355-357


Synthetic Cannabinoids: An Emerging Cause of Coagulopathy

Shakir Ullaha, Amna M. Chaudharyb, Khalid Nawabc, d, Ravi Athwanic, Amandeep Singhc

aKhyber Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan
bUPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg Hospital, Harrisburg, PA, USA
cGeisinger Holy Spirit Hospital, Camp Hill, PA, USA
dCorresponding Author: Khalid Nawab, Geisinger Holy Spirit Hospital, Camp Hill, PA, USA

Manuscript submitted August 4, 2020, accepted August 12, 2020, published online September 23, 2020
Short title: Synthetic Cannabinoids Induced Coagulopathy
doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc3561

Abstract▴Top 

Synthetic cannabinoids-associated coagulopathy cases are on the rise but are usually undetected in clinical settings due to less awareness among physicians and the lack of available literature on the subject. Patient may also not volunteer information about the use of such substances therefore detailed history is important. We present a case of a patient found to have coagulopathy of unclear cause as patient did not report the use of synthetic cannabinoid initially.

Keywords: Coagulopathy; Synthetic cannabinoids; Marijuana

Introduction▴Top 

Synthetic cannabinoids (SC) are a heterogeneous group of compounds used as a substitute for natural marijuana. Its use has increased over the years due to its easy availability and its increasing popularity across the USA. The past decade has seen a nearly 10-fold increase in the availability of highly potent SC for recreational use. These changes have been accompanied by the emergence of serious adverse cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, stroke, and cardiac arrest [1]. SC use leads to increased mental health problems compared with natural cannabinoids [2]. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already issued a warning regarding the adverse effects of SC [3]. These compounds are associated with several other adverse effects including nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, hypertension, tachycardia, chest pain, acute renal failure, anxiety, agitation, psychosis, cognitive impairment, hemorrhagic strokes idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura as well as other coagulopathies [4-6].

An increasing trend of coagulopathies in the USA has been reported after the rise of SC use with even some large outbreaks reported over the years [7]. Almost all the cases of SC induced coagulopathies believed to have occurred because of a compound called brodifacoum [8].

Case Report▴Top 

A 47-year-old female with a previous diagnosis of anxiety, depression as well as a history of suicide attempt with an overdose of Benadryl presented to the emergency room (ER) with complaints of right lower quadrant pain, blood in urine and fever, 2 days after a visit to a primary care physician who had prescribed ciprofloxacin for a urinary tract infection (UTI), diagnosed by a urinalysis. Initial blood workup was insignificant with normal levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen and pelvis revealed nonspecific right perinephric and periureteric stranding. She was discharged home with no changes made to medications.

The patient returned to the ER 2 days later with worsening abdominal pain and gross hematuria with the passage of clots. Physical examination revealed an anxious and malnourished female. She was in no distress. Cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological examinations were unremarkable.

Blood work revealed normal/near normal white blood cells count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets count, normal liver enzymes as well as normal renal function. However, prothrombin time (PT) was greater than 300 s (normal range is 11 to 13.5 s), international normalized ratio (INR) was greater than 25 (normal range is 0.8 to 1.1) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) was 112 s (normal range is 30 - 40 s). Her PT/INR and aPTT values were confirmed three times by laboratory. Further studies revealed normal thrombin time, fibrinogen and factor V activity. Factor 2 activity was 30% (normal range for adults is 75-145%), factor X activity 25% (normal range is 50-200%). Plasma coumadin was not detected, urine culture subsequently revealed normal urogenital flora. Blood culture did not show any growth.

Ultrasound of the abdomen revealed large heterogeneous material within the bladder lumen. The patient was admitted to the medical floor and a consult was placed to the department of urology and hematology.

On further workup, we found that the patient had no history of blood transfusions or spontaneous bleeding. The patient denied a history of familial bleeding disorders. The patient had not been prescribed warfarin or any novel oral anticoagulants (NOAC) and denied taking any other anticoagulants. The patient admitted to smoking half a pack of cigarettes a day and smoked marijuana for 21 years as well as drank alcohol daily. The patient was initially not very forthcoming with her history of alcohol and drug abuse and the history was obtained on multiple, separate occasions. She subsequently admitted to using synthetic marijuana recently.

She was evaluated by the department of hematology for coagulopathy. The case was discussed with poison control due to concerns for synthetic marijuana-induced coagulopathy. The patient was started on scheduled vitamin K which was gradually increased until her INR was less than 2.0. She was discharged home with oral vitamin K 15 mg every 6 h and advised to follow-up with the hematology office and get INR checked before the appointment.

Discussion▴Top 

SC use is on the rise over the past years due to their perceived safety as compared to natural marijuana as well as their ease of availability [9]. It cannot be detected using routine drug test and thus is popular among the newer generation [10]. Over the years, there has been an increasing trend in ER visits due to SC, with a 900% increase reported by a study conducted in Maryland with 40 cases in 2013 to 353 in 2017, with the majority of the patients being females [11].

The Illinois poison center reported 178 cases between March 10 and August 1, 2018, with suspected SC use and coagulopathy. Eighty-eight percent of those had an INR greater than 10. Eighteen patients underwent qualitative anticoagulant testing, with all of them reporting positive for brodifacoum. 63% of the patient in the study presented with flank-pains and 70% had hematuria [7]. In a study conducted by Castaneto et al about 92% of respondent admitted to taking SC with other drugs and/or alcohol [5].

An outbreak of SC-associated coagulopathy reported in Illinois showed that the causative agents were brodifacoum, difenacoum, and bromadiolone, which are potent, long-acting anticoagulant rodenticides (LAAR) [12]. But brodifacoum is by far the biggest culprit in SC-associated coagulopathies. All reported cases of cannabinoid-associated coagulopathies where vitamin K antagonists were suspected had identified contamination with brodifacoum [13].

Enhanced toxicity of SC compared to marijuana is due to the high affinity of these compounds for cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) as compared to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active compound present in marijuana [14]. Brodifacoum is a 4-hydroxycoumarin anticoagulant characterized as a “super warfarin” anticoagulant [15]. Brodifacoum inhibits the enzyme vitamin K epoxide reductase, steadily decreasing the level of active vitamin K in the blood, which is required for the synthesis of important substances including prothrombin involved in blood clotting. This disruption leads to blood effectively losing any ability to clot [2].

In addition to coagulopathy, SC use has also led to acute kidney injury (AKI) with or without other associated systems. A study conducted after Wyoming Department of Health found AKI in 16 patients all of whom reported use of SC [16].

Imaging can be performed to evaluate the presence of bleeding, especially in patients with severe abdominal or flank pain. With most common radiographic abnormalities were in the renal system, as seen on computed tomography, including perinephric stranding, hyperemia, diffuse thickening, and dilatation of the urothelial collecting system [17].

Specific guidelines for treatment have not been established yet but treatment often requires intravenous vitamin K1 at the dose of 50 to 100 mg; due to long half-life difenacoum, chronic maintenance with 100 mg per os (PO) vitamin K1 daily may be used to suppress coagulopathy. In previously reported cases, treatment courses averaged 168 days. In case of active bleeding, hemostatic therapy with recombinant factor VIIa and prothrombin complex concentrate has been reported, and phenobarbital has been used to expedite LAAR metabolism [18].

Conclusions

Patients presenting with unexplained coagulopathy should be questioned about the use of SC as patients may not be forthcoming with such information due to various reasons. It may be associated with AKI and can be treated with vitamin K supplementation however guidelines regarding treatment of such coagulopathy have not been established yet.

Acknowledgments

None to declare.

Financial Disclosure

No funding was received. None of the authors have disclosures relevant to this manuscript.

Conflict of Interest

None to declare.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from the patient. The manuscript has been sufficiently de-identified to protect the patient.

Author Contributions

All authors contributed to the editing of the manuscript. SU, AMC and KN wrote the manuscript. RV and AS reviewed and made final additions.

Data Availability

The authors declare that data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.


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