Treatment with Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol/cannabidiol in Multiple Sclerosis: Influence on the Autonomy Profile according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health

Silvia Ciotti; Mary Micheli; Antonella Cometa; Claudia De Carlo; Giancarlo Martini; Andrea Marona; Laura Filippetti; Diego Carducci; Silvano Baratta; Mauro Zampolini; Francesco Corea

doi:10.12890/2021_002298

Treatment with Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol/cannabidiol in Multiple Sclerosis: Influence on the Autonomy Profile according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health

Eur J Case Rep Intern Med. 2021 Sep 6;8(9):002298. doi: 10.12890/2021_002298. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ USL Umbria 2, Department of Rehabilitation, S.C.R.I.N. Trevi, Italy.
² USL Umbria 2, Department of Rehabilitation, S.M. Stella, Orvieto, Italy.
³ USL Umbria 2, Department of Rehabilitation, Domus Gratiae, Terni, Italy.
⁴ USL Umbria 2, Department of Rehabilitation, Ospedale di Cascia, Cascia, Italy.
⁵ USL Umbria 2, Department of Neuroradiology, Ospedale S.G. Battista, Foligno, Italy.
⁶ USL Umbria 2, Department of Rehabilitation and Neurology, Ospedale S.G. Battista, Foligno, Italy.

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common cause of non-traumatic neurological disability in young adults. It has effects at different levels: physical, emotional, psychological, cognitive and social, with a great variety of signs and symptoms. In particular, spasticity contributes to reducing the motor performance of patients with MS, causing pain, reduction in distance walked and limitations in social life. We present the case of a 39-year-old woman with MS. She was treated with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol/cannabidiol and the outcome was assessed with the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health core set framework.

Learning points: The clinical presentation of multiple sclerosis (MS) is heterogeneous but very often lower limb spasticity leads to severe disability.The use of nabiximols improved spasticity control and motor performance in walking, and also had a larger effect in improving activity and participation in personal relationships.Appropriate assessment of MS cases, through the ICF framework, may demonstrate further effects of nabiximols on patient capacity and performance.

Keywords: ICF; Multiple sclerosis; delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol/cannabidiol; neurorehabilitation.