Chest
Clinical InvestigationsEffect of Oral Administration of Delta9-Tetrahydrocannabinol on Airway Mechanics in Normal and Asthmatic Subjects
Section snippets
Materials and Methods
Table 1 shows the physical characteristics and smoking histories of the six control subjects and the six asthmatic subjects diagnosed according to the standards of the American Thoracic Society.4 Among the control subjects, none was currently a heavy cigarette smoker; among the asthmatic patients, two (subjects A3, and A4) were cigarette smokers. All asthmatic subjects were clinically stable at the time of inclusion in the study; they continued to receive their usual medications but were asked
Results
Table 1 shows the baseline data for pulmonary function obtained on the day when the capsule was given to control and asthmatic subjects. Baseline data for pulmonary function and heart rates for all subjects were similar on both days of testing. The $$max50% and Gaw/VL were within normal limits in control subjects, except for subject C6, who was an ex-smoker and had a past history of winter bronchitis; he and two other control subjects (C1 and C2) also had an increased RV. All asthmatic patients
Discussion
In this study, we found mild but significant changes in Gaw/VL in six control subjects following oral administration of 10 mg of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol; however, changes in $$max50% were not significantly greater than after administration of placebo. Our results are comparable to those obtained by Tashkin and coworkers3 in 12 experienced marihuana smokers who had significant increases in Gaw/VL at 1, 1½, 4, and 5 hours following oral administration of 10 mg of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol; however,
Acknowledgments
Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and placebo capsules were supplied by the National Institutes of Mental Health, Bethesda, Md.
References (22)
- et al.
The Veterans Administration-Army cooperative study of pulmonary function: 1. Clinical spirometry in normal men
Am J Med
(1961) - et al.
Urticaria and asthma induced by food and drug additives in patients with aspirin hypersensitivity
J Allergy Clin Immunol
(1972) Marihuana
Sci Am
(1969)- et al.
Single dose effect of marihuana smoke: Bronchial dynamics and respiratory center sensitivity in normal subjects
N Engl J Med
(1973) - et al.
Acute pulmonary physiologic effects of smoked marihuana and oral Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in healthy young men
N Engl J Med
(1973) Chronic bronchitis, asthma and pulmonary emphysema: A statement on diagnostic standards for non-tuberculous respiratory disease
Am Rev Respir Dis
(1962)- et al.
A rapid plethysmographic method for measuring thoracic gas volume: a comparison with a nitrogen washout method for measuring functional residual capacity in normal subjects
J Clin Invest
(1956) - et al.
A new method of measuring airway resistance in man using a body plethysmograph: Values in normal subjects and in patients with respiratory disease
J Clin Invest
(1956) - et al.
Comparison of maximal midexpiratory flow, flow volume curves, and nitrogen closing volumes in patients with mild airway obstruction
Am Rev Respir Dis
(1975) - et al.
Respiratory function tests: Normal values at median altitudes and the prediction of normal results
Am Rev Tuberc
(1959)
Spirometrie standards for healthy nonsmoking adults
Am Rev Respir Dis
Cited by (38)
Cannabinoid receptor 2 as a regulator of inflammation induced by oleoylethanolamide in eosinophilic asthma
2024, Journal of Allergy and Clinical ImmunologyCannabinoid receptor 2 engagement promotes group 2 innate lymphoid cell expansion and enhances airway hyperreactivity
2022, Journal of Allergy and Clinical ImmunologyCitation Excerpt :The contribution of cannabinoids in airway inflammation is clear, but their effects can be bidirectional depending on the severity of asthma.65 While it can induce bronchodilation in chronic asthmatics,66 several reports reveal that some asthmatics develop severe bronchoconstriction in response to THC.67,68 This dichotomy may be explained in part by the different immune mechanisms driving airway inflammation, likely causing heterogenous responsiveness to cannabinoids.
Cannabinoids and the immune system: Potential for the treatment of inflammatory diseases?
2005, Journal of NeuroimmunologyCannabinoids and inflammations of the gut-lung-skin barrier
2021, Journal of Personalized MedicineThe Role of Cannabinoids in Allergic Diseases: Collegium Internationale Allergologicum (CIA) Update 2020
2020, International Archives of Allergy and ImmunologyEndocannabinoid system in the airways
2019, Molecules
Supported by an RODA grant from Health and Welfare, Canada.
Manuscript received January 19; revision accepted April 20.