thc in cannabis could help people with acute respiratory distress syndrome, a coronavirus-linked illness
in a new study, every thc-treated mouse survived ards, a rapidly-progressing disease causing pulmonary inflammation
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photo: ryanking999/getty images
by emma spearsresults from a new study published in the medical journal frontiers in pharmacology suggest that tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) may be helpful in preventing the occurrence of a life-threatening illness linked to the coronavirus.researchers at the university of south carolina say that the cannabinoid can reduce a type of rapidly-progressing disease causing pulmonary inflammation known as acute respiratory distress syndrome(ards). symptoms include shortness of breath, gasping for air and blue colouration of the skin.ards causes fluid to leak into the tiny air sacs in the lungs, called alveoli, preventing the organs from filling with air, lowering the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream and subsequently, to the organs. the disease generally appears in patients who have already been hospitalized for other serious health issues. the disease is fatal for many sufferers, with heightened risk to the elderly and those who are experiencing other severe illnesses or injuries. those who survive often suffer permanent pulmonary damage.ards affects approximately 3 million people worldwide every year, with cases expected to spike this year in the wake of the ongoing covid-19 global pandemic.the study administered thc to mice suffering from staphylococcus aureus infection-induced ards, which normally results in acute mortality. in 100 per cent of cases of thc-treated mice, the cannabinoid halted pulmonary inflammation by decelerating the release of cytokine proteins — leading to the survival of every mouse that received the treatment.“it is of interest to note that a significant proportion of coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) patients come down with sepsis and ards accompanied by cytokine storm,” researchers wrote. “because currently there is no effective treatment against ards, a significant percentage of such covid-19 patients die from severe damage to the lungs and other organs, caused by cytokine storm.”although they say that the findings suggest that thc “may play a critical role” in the treatment of ards, the study’s authors note that the results are preliminary and that further study is needed before the findings can be applied in a medical setting.“additional studies are needed to investigate if the mechanisms involved are similar and whether cannabinoids can be used to treat covid-19 related ards,” the study concludes.don’t miss the latest on covid-19, reopening and life. subscribe to healthing’s daily newsletter coming out of covid.
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