CDC Warning - Vitamin K Dependent Antagonist Coagulopathy Associated With Synthetic Cannabinoid Use

Looks like the issue has spread - which isn't all that surprising. But is frightening.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued a warning regarding the surge in severe bleeding cases associated with synthetic cannabinoid use from Illinois. From March 10 to April 5, 2018, ninety-four (94) people have presented to the hospital with severe bleeding symptoms after exposure to herbal incense/potpourri synthetic cannabinoid products. Eighty nine (89) of the cases are in Illinois, with the remaining five (5) originating in Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, and Wisconsin. There has been positive analytical confirmation of Brodifacoum in at least eighteen (18) individuals, with two (2) fatalities. Brodifacoum has been identified as a constituent in three (3) synthetic cannabinoid products.

Read here and here for previous my updates on this issue as well as a quick explainer as to what Brodifacoum actually is.

If you are on Twitter, check out Dr. Steve Aks (@ERtox) and Cook County Medical Examiner's Office (@CookCountyME) for updates.

Be safe.


References

Outbreak Alert: Potential Life-Threatening Vitamin K Dependent Antagonist Coagulopathy Associated With Synthetic Cannabinoid Use
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USCDC/bulletins/1e6dac3
Accessed: April 7, 2018

Tainted Synthetic Pot Eyed As Cause Of Another Illinois Death As Store Owner Accused Of Selling Substance Held Without Bail
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-fake-pot-poison-cook-county-20180406-story.html
Accessed: April 7, 2018

Bleeding and Coagulopathy Associated with Synthetic Cannabinoid Products
https://dosemakespoison.blogspot.com/2018/03/bleeding-and-coagulopathy-associated.html

Update of an Outbreak of Severe Bleeding Cases / Synthetic Cannabinoid Use
http://dosemakespoison.blogspot.com/2018/04/update-of-outbreak-of-severe-bleeding.html

Update of an Outbreak of Severe Bleeding Cases / Synthetic Cannabinoid Use

As I wrote about the other day, there was a mass outbreak of severe bleeding cases associated with synthetic cannabinoid use in Illinois during March. As of March 29, there were 22 reports of vitamin K dependent severe coagulopathy.

Five days later and there have been 56 affected individuals. Symptoms include coughing up blood, blood in the urine, severe bloody nose, and/or bleeding gums. Nine people have tested positive for the vitamin K antagonist Brodifacoum (see my last post for explanation of its effects). Two people have died.

Three people have been arrested in Chicago in connection to selling some herbal incense/potpourri products that (according to police) have detectable amounts of Brodifacoum.

Dump your product if you have any.

Stay safe out there.


References

Bleeding and Coagulopathy Associated with Synthetic Cannabinoid Products
https://dosemakespoison.blogspot.com/2018/03/bleeding-and-coagulopathy-associated.html

Second Death of An Individual Who Used Synthetic Cannabinoids
http://www.dph.illinois.gov/news/second-death-individual-who-used-synthetic-cannabinoids
Accessed April 3, 2018.

3 Chicago Store Clerks Charged With Selling Synthetic Pot Laced With Rat Poison
http://abcnews.go.com/US/chicago-store-clerks-charged-selling-synthetic-pot-laced/story?id=54197525
Accessed April 3, 2018.