{
  "abstract": "Background\n\nCannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a paradoxical and increasingly prevalent disorder characterized by recurrent vomiting in people with chronic cannabis use. Despite its growing clinical impact, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.Methods\n\nGenome-wide RNA sequencing was used to characterize transcriptomic differences and identify potential pathways involved in CHS pathogenesis. In this pilot study, whole blood RNA sequencing was performed on 7 patients with suspected CHS and 7 matched controls. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, annotated and analyzed by automated and manual analysis. RNA sequences were further analyzed by digital isotyping for HLA Class I and II allele usage.Results\n\nSuspected CHS was associated with marked activation of the adaptive immune system, including upregulation of B-cell related immunoglobin transcripts and altered expression of T cell, monocyte, and neutrophil-related transcripts. DEGs also suggested increased matrix degradation, and reduced adhesion and protease inhibitor transcripts. Digital HLA isotyping revealed increased MHC Class I expression, Class II allele restriction, and down-regulation of IgE receptor transcripts, a known response to elevated IgE levels in allergic hypersensitivity.Conclusions\n\nTogether, these preliminary findings identify immune-related signals in ED patients with suspected CHS, and lay the groundwork for future studies with larger, prospectively phenotyped cohorts to identify biomarkers, clarify immune triggers, and develop targeted therapies.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Emergency Medicine, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.",
    "Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.",
    "Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine and Department of Medicine, Division of Genomic Medicine, The George Washington University Medical Center, 2300 I Street NW, Ross Hall 205, Washington, DC, 20037, USA.",
    "Department of Emergency Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA.",
    "Department of Emergency Medicine, Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC, USA.",
    "Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine and Department of Medicine, Division of Genomic Medicine, The George Washington University Medical Center, 2300 I Street NW, Ross Hall 205, Washington, DC, 20037, USA. mcc@gwu.edu."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 14,
  "authors": [
    {
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        0
      ],
      "name": "Andrew Meltzer"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Ziva D Cooper"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ryan Heidish"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Aditya Loganathan"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Tarun Loganathan"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Taylor Bolden"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Isabella Lagunazad"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "John Perkins"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Kevin Jaatinen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Jacob Adelman"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Joseph Miller"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Stephanie A Eucker"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Eileen Phillips"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Timothy A McCaffrey",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4648-7833"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ba4e9qkkyzffy.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1186/s42238-026-00477-x",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13685215",
  "id": "ba4e9qkkyzffy",
  "issns": [
    "2522-5782"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42902438",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "lcc",
      "RS1-441"
    ],
    [
      "lcc",
      "SB1-1110"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2736|Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7170223362",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13685215?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13685215",
  "pmid": "42902438",
  "published": "2026-07-01",
  "publisher": "BMC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ba4e9qkkyzffy.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:42Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42902438",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42902438"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T13:46:26Z",
      "native_id": "c81aedf98c0946e9b7112d3e09dba659",
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      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-026-00477-x"
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2736|Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research",
      "subfield": "pharmacology-toxicology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Whole-blood transcriptomic findings in emergency department patients with suspected cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome: a pilot study.",
  "title_text": "Whole-blood transcriptomic findings in emergency department patients with suspected cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome: a pilot study.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T13:46:26Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ba4e9qkkyzffy",
  "venue": "Journal of cannabis research",
  "versions": []
}