Back
For best output, select "Paper Size" as "A4" and "Margin" as "0" or "None".
To save or print to PDF, please select Print Destination > Save as PDF, enable Background Graphics under "More Settings", then click "Save".
During the congress, E-Posters will be accessible to all participants on the congress website 24/7, as well as in the E-poster stations in the congress center.
Preparing your E-Poster
Please review the E-Poster format requirements carefully when preparing your E-Poster. Should your E-Poster not meet the mentioned requirements, it may not be displayed as described above.
E-Poster Submission Deadline
Please prepare and upload your E-Poster no later than March 14, 2026 11.59PM CET. After this date, you will no longer be able to prepare and upload your E-poster and it will not be displayed and accessible on the congress website.
Please follow the instructions below to input your abstract title.
Abstract titles should be brief and reflect the content of the abstract.
Symptom burden is high in people with kidney failure and there is a need for new treatments. Cannabinoids (from medicinal cannabis) hold potential as treatments for a number of common symptoms but little data exists on their use in people with kidney failure. Patient perspectives on cannabinoid therapy for kidney failure symptoms are poorly understood. This qualitative analysis explored participant experiences with cannabidiol (CBD) in a phase 1b clinical trial.
Adults with kidney failure and moderate-to-severe symptoms (a score of ≥ 4 on the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Score (revised)-Renal (ESASr-Renal)), in at least one of the following symptom domains: pain, nausea, lack of appetite, itching, problem sleeping, restless legs, or tiredness) were prospectively enrolled into a single-arm study and received CBD (sublingual wafer) for 6 weeks, titrated to effect. Semi-structured exit interviews were conducted at week 10, covering five predetermined themes: efficacy, side effects/tolerability, dosing, satisfaction, and interest in further research. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis.
Twelve participants (3 female, 9 male) were enrolled (median age 69 years, range 54-85), of whom 10 were receiving dialysis (2 peritoneal dialysis, 8 haemodialysis) and 2 receiving conservative kidney management. Eleven participants completed the study, of whom 7 remained on CBD for 6 weeks (2 ceased due to lack of efficacy, 2 due to mild adverse effects). One participant died (unrelated to study treatment). The median daily dose of CBD was 300mg (range 25-400). Participant experiences diverged markedly. Seven participants completed 6 weeks of treatment with three reporting feeling "very much improved" and two "much improved." Positive experiences included improvements in sleep ("I've had great sleep since"), appetite ("My appetite came back...I felt I had a lot of energy"), pain ("completely eliminated [oxycodone]"), anxiety ("no more anxiety"), and pruritus ("The itch was gone completely"). Conversely, six participants reported minimal or no benefit, stating "it didn't seem to do anything at all" and "I thought I was getting placebo." Side effects like nausea and drowsiness were described by few participants. Participants strongly endorsed flexible, patient-led dosing ("the opportunity to let the patient play around with their own level of dosage...that's probably the best thing"). An unexpected theme emerged regarding access barriers, including concerns about cost and difficulty finding prescribing physicians outside research contexts.
CBD produced highly variable experiences in people with kidney failure, ranging from substantial symptom improvement to no perceived benefit. Patient-led dose titration was well-accepted. Access barriers represent important implementation challenges requiring attention in future research and clinical practice.
