Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “THALIDOMIDE”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,063 records · Page 59Linked to original sources

Development of polyneuropathy during thalidomide therapy.

Seven patients with prurigo nodularis and one with aphthous stomatitis were given 40-115 g of thalidomide for 1 to 6 years. They all developed a predominantly sensory peripheral neuropathy mainly involving the lower limbs. Five patients had an unpleasant tight feeling around the feet. Nerve conduction studies showed small sensory action potentials from the lower limbs with normal or only mild slowing of sensory conduction velocity indicating an axonal neuropathy. The dermatological disorder improved dramatically in all, but treatment had to be discontinued because of the severe side-effects. Thalidomide, if used, should be given only over a short period because of its neurotoxic effect.

Action Potentials↗

Thalidomide in the treatment of neuro-Behçet's syndrome.

No relapses of symptoms in a patient with neuro-Behçet's syndrome were observed after the addition of thalidomide to chlorambucil and prednisolone therapy. At present, the patient has been free of symptoms for 3 years. This observation, together with those reported from the literature, strongly support a re-evaluation of thalidomide therapy in certain life-threatening diseases such as neuro-Behçet's syndrome.

Adult↗

Thalidomide: dermatological indications, mechanisms of action and side-effects.

Thalidomide was first introduced in the 1950s as a sedative but was quickly removed from the market after it was linked to cases of severe birth defects. However, it has since made a remarkable comeback for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved use in the treatment of erythema nodosum leprosum. Further, it has shown its effectiveness in unresponsive dermatological conditions such as actinic prurigo, adult Langerhans cell histiocytosis, aphthous stomatitis, Behçet's syndrome, graft-versus-host disease, cutaneous sarcoidosis, erythema multiforme, Jessner-Kanof lymphocytic infiltration of the skin, Kaposi sarcoma, lichen planus, lupus erythematosus, melanoma, prurigo nodularis, pyoderma gangrenosum and uraemic pruritus. This article reviews the history, pharmacology, mechanism of action, clinical uses and adverse effects of thalidomide.

Adult↗

Low-dose thalidomide in combination with oral weekly cyclophosphamide and pulsed dexamethasone is a well tolerated and effective regimen in patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma.

The feasibility and efficacy of a triple regimen of oral weekly cyclophosphamide, monthly pulsed dexamethasone and low-dose Thalidomide (CDT) was studied in 52 patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (MM). All 52 patients were evaluable for response with a median follow up of 18 (4-29) months. About 17% achieved complete response (CR), 62% partial response (PR), 11% minimal response (MR), 6% stable disease (SD) and 4% progressive disease (PD), resulting in an objective response rate (>/=MR) of 90%. Subsequent to successful response, nine patients received high-dose therapy (HDT) followed by stem cell transplantation (SCT) and 34 received thalidomide monotherapy as maintenance. Response rate was not influenced by disease status, prior HDT or age. The regimen was successfully delivered to all patients except for one patient who developed abnormal liver function at 7 weeks. Infective complications were minimal and there were no infection-related deaths. The estimated overall and event-free survival (EFS) at 2 years was 73% and 34%, respectively, and the median time to progression has not been reached. We conclude that the CDT regimen is safe, well tolerated and effective in patients with relapsed and refractory myeloma.

Adolescent↗

A systematic review of phase-II trials of thalidomide monotherapy in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

The activity of thalidomide in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma is widely accepted but not yet demonstrated in a randomised-controlled trial. A systematic review of the published clinical trials of these patients could reduce the possible bias of single phase-II studies. A systematic search identified 42 communications reporting on 1674 patients. Thirty-two trials used an escalating dosing regimen and four a fixed dose regimen (one dose with 50 mg/d, three doses with 200 mg/d). The target dose in the dose escalating trials was 800 mg/d in 17 trials, 400-600 mg/d in 10 and 200 mg/d in one trial. The intention-to-treat population for efficacy was 1629 patients with a median age of 62 years. The complete and partial (>50% reduction in monoclonal protein) response rate was 29.4% (95%-confidence interval, 27-32%). The rates for minor responses or stable disease were 13.8% (12-16%) and 11.0% (9-13%). Progressive disease was reported in 9.9% (8-11%). The median overall survival from all trials was reported at 14 months. Severe adverse events (grade III-IV) included somnolence 11%, constipation 16%, neuropathy 6%, rash 3%, thrombo-embolism 3%, cardiac 2%. In conclusion, thalidomide monotherapy achieved complete and partial responses in 29.4% of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic↗

Recalcitrant erosive flexural lichen planus: successful treatment with a combination of thalidomide and 0.1% tacrolimus ointment.

A 79-year-old woman has had chronically eroded and ulcerated flexural lichen planus for 12 years, resistant to many forms of treatment. She was successfully treated initially with a combination of topical 0.1% tacrolimus ointment and oral thalidomide and then with topical tacrolimus alone. She has remained free of exacerbations for 12 months and treatment has been well tolerated. Erosive lichen planus involving flexures alone is rare. All reports on treatment of this condition address erosive oral or mucosal lichen planus and both thalidomide and topical tacrolimus have been reported individually to be beneficial.

Aged↗

Unusual cutaneous involvement during plasma cell leukaemia phase in a multiple myeloma patient after treatment with thalidomide: a case report and review of the literature.

We report the case of a 54-year-old African-American male with IgG multiple myeloma (MM) with disease resistant to multiple chemotherapy regimens and immunomodulatory treatment with thalidomide. In spite of achieving a partial remission of short duration, his disease accelerated to peripheral plasmacytosis and subsequent development of cutaneous plasmacytomas. The malignant plasma cells derived from the dermal lesions were CD45+, CD38+, CD138+ and matched the immunophenotype of the plasmacytes during the leukaemic phase. Occurrence of extramedullary lesions in the setting of MM treated with thalidomide is of concern, although currently there are very few reports describing this association. We discuss the possible relationship between the patient's unusual disease course and the administered chemo- and immunotherapy. The significance of the changes in adhesion molecules, especially CD138 and CD56, relevant to the development of cutaneous plasmacytomas is discussed.

Humans↗

Electroencephalographic study of 137 patients with thalidomide embryopathy.

EEG examinations were carried out on 137 patients with thalidomide embryopathy aged between 7 and 22 with a mean age of 17.0. Waking and sleep EEGs were normal in 82 (59.9%), and abnormal in 55 (40.1%). The incidence of abnormal EEG was significantly high in the patients associated with mental retardation, and it increased in proportion to the severity of mental retardation. The most frequent abnormal EEG finding was slowing of the basic activity (35/137; 24.8%). The incidence of slowing was significantly higher in the patients with a sensorineural hearing impairment (26/74; 35.1%) than in those with dysmelia (9/62; 14.5%). Slowing appeared frequently in the patients with various cranial nerve symptoms (30/84; 35.7%). The incidence of slowing was found significantly high in the patients with borderline or subnormal intelligence (8/16; 50.0%), and it correlated with the severity of mental retardation. Many patients (48/84; 57.1%) showed unilateral or asymmetrical neurological symptoms. However, asymmetry or focal abnormality in EEG was shown in only 8 patients. Positive spikes appeared frequently in the patients with gonadal dysplasia. Other somatic symptoms, past medical history and family history were not related to the incidence of abnormal EEGs. Eight patients had had epileptic seizures prior to this examination. Another 2 patients had nocturnal enuresis and showed epileptic EEG abnormalities in this examination. The incidence of epilepsy was significantly higher in the patients we examined than among the general population. It is concluded that ingestion of thalidomide during pregnancy affected not only the morphological development of the limbs of the fetus, but the functions of its central nervous system, causing hearing impairment, other cranial nerve symptoms, mental retardation or epilepsy.

Adolescent↗

Enhancement of antibody response and delayed-type hypersensitivity by thalidomide in mice.

Renewed interest in thalidomide stemmed from the suggestion by several authors that it might prove useful against immune-related diseases. Despite interesting preliminary findings, little is actually known regarding its immunoenhancing properties in vivo. Male and female Swiss mice, aged 6-8 wk, were given 0.5 or 25 mg/kg/day of thalidomide orally for 4 wk. Various immunological parameters were then assessed. When compared to controls, mice exposed to the higher dose presented with a significantly increased thymus weight index, whereas spleen weight index remained unchanged. Anti-sheep erythrocyte plaque-forming cells and hemagglutinin titers were increased by 44% and 29%, respectively. Contact hypersensitivity to picryl chloride was enhanced by 62%. Finally, colloidal carbon clearance was not altered. Interestingly, the lower dose (5 mg/kg/day) exerted no effect whatsoever.

Animals↗

Single-agent thalidomide induces response in T-cell lymphoma.

T-cell lymphoma is an aggressive lymphoma that cannot be cured despite aggressive therapy, including autologous stem cell transplantation. Thalidomide is an immunomodulatory drug with numerous properties that has proven effective in relapsed multiple myeloma and, to a lesser extent, in other hematologic diseases. We report three cases of relapsed refractory T-cell lymphoma treated with thalidomide with a good tumor response.

Aged↗

Single-dose pharmacokinetics of thalidomide in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients.

The pharmacokinetics of thalidomide in nine human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients were studied. Single doses of thalidomide were well absorbed, with mean peak concentrations (+/- standard deviations) of 1.17 +/- 0.21 and 3.47 +/- 1.14 microg/ml in the 100- and 300-mg dosing groups, respectively, and the mean elimination half-life was approximately 6 h. Adverse effects were mild, with drowsiness being reported for seven of nine patients.

Adult↗

Thalidomide inhibits granulocyte responses in healthy humans after ex vivo stimulation with bacterial antigens.

Ingestion of thalidomide was associated with a reduction in the upregulation of the granulocyte activation marker CD11b and a reduced capacity to release elastase and lactoferrin after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide or lipoteichoic acid. A single oral dose of thalidomide attenuates neutrophil activation upon ex vivo stimulation with bacterial antigens.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

Disseminated herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster virus coinfection in a patient taking thalidomide for relapsed multiple myeloma.

Disseminated herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) have been reported individually in immunosuppressed adults. We present a case of coinfection with disseminated HSV and VZV infection in a patient taking thalidomide for relapsed multiple myeloma. This is the first report of opportunistic infection associated with thalidomide.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗

An open study of pentoxyfylline and thalidomide as adjuvant therapy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Dysregulation of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) production is thought to be important in rheumatoid arthritis. Since pentoxifylline and thalidomide inhibit endotoxin induced TNF production in vitro, these drugs were tested in an open study in rheumatoid arthritis patients to assess toxicity, the effect on TNF production, and the antiarthritic effects. METHODS: 12 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis were treated with 1200 mg pentoxifylline and 100 mg thalidomide a day during 12 weeks. In addition, TNF production was assessed by ex vivo whole blood cultures stimulated with endotoxin. RESULTS: Adverse events such as xerostomia, drowsiness, and constipation occurred in almost all patients, which led to discontinuation in three. The drugs halved the TNF production capacity during treatment (ANOVA, P < 0.03) whereas production capacity of interleukin (IL) 6, IL-10, and IL-12 was not affected. Of the nine patients who completed the study, five fulfilled the ACR-20% response criteria after 12 weeks of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Although pentoxifylline/thalidomide reduced the production capacity of TNF, the benefit/side effects ratio was poor due to multiple adverse effects, while clinical observation suggests limited efficacy.

Antirheumatic Agents↗

Mutations at the SALL4 locus on chromosome 20 result in a range of clinically overlapping phenotypes, including Okihiro syndrome, Holt-Oram syndrome, acro-renal-ocular syndrome, and patients previously reported to represent thalidomide embryopathy.

We have recently shown that Okihiro syndrome results from mutation in the putative zinc finger transcription factor gene SALL4 on chromosome 20q13.13-13.2. There is considerable overlap of clinical features of Okihiro syndrome with other conditions, most notably Holt-Oram syndrome, a condition in part resulting from mutation of the TBX5 locus, as well as acro-renal-ocular syndrome. We analysed further families/patients with the clinical diagnosis of Holt-Oram syndrome and acro-renal-ocular syndrome for SALL4 mutations. We identified a novel SALL4 mutation in one family where the father was originally thought to have thalidomide embryopathy and had a daughter with a similar phenotype. We also found two novel mutations in two German families originally diagnosed as Holt-Oram syndrome and a further mutation in one out of two families carrying the diagnosis acro-renal-ocular syndrome. Our results show that some cases of "thalidomide embryopathy" might be the result of SALL4 mutations, resulting in an increased risk for similarly affected offspring. Furthermore we confirm the overlap of acro-renal-ocular syndrome with Okihiro syndrome at the molecular level and expand the phenotype of SALL4 mutations.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗