Thalidomide: Difference between revisions

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'''Thalidomide''' is a [[biologic response modifier]] with an increasing number of applications in severe inflammatory, immune, or dermatologic diseases. It is anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, and immulomodulatory. Originally introduced as a sedative in the 1950s, it causes extreme fetal malformations or fetal death, and was unavailable for many years. A piperidinyl isoindole originally introduced as a non-barbiturate hypnotic, but withdrawn from the market due to teratogenic effects.<ref>{{MeSH}}</ref>
[[Image:Thalidomide.jpg|left|thumb|240px|Structure of thalidomide]]
----
'''Thalidomide''' is a biological response modifier with an increasing number of applications in severe inflammatory, immune, or dermatologic diseases. It is anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, and immulomodulatory. A piperidinyl isoindole originally introduced as a non-barbiturate hypnotic in the 1950s, it causes extreme fetal malformations or fetal death, and was unavailable for many years.<ref>{{MeSH}}</ref>
'''''Thalidomide is absolutely  contraindicated in pregnancy. Female patients who receive it <u>must</u> use two forms of contraception.'''''
{| " style="border: solid; center; width:450px;"
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!align=left colspan=3 style="background:#{{{color}}}"| Thalidomide is absolutely  contraindicated in pregnancy. Female patients who receive it <u>must</u> use two forms of contraception or abstain completely from sexual intercourse.


Physicians are cautiously approaching it for a number of disorders. Even though its mechanisms have not been fully characterized, it has a number of unique features.<ref>{{citation
Men taking thalidomide also must use contraception, because it is not known if the birth defects can be passed in sperm.
 
Patients must not donate blood for at least one year after discontinuing thalidomide therapy.<ref>{{citation
| url = http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/common/thalidomide.html
| title = Thalidomide
| publisher = National Toxicology, [[U.S. Department of Health and Human Services]]
}}</ref>
|-
|}
 
Physicians are cautiously approaching it for a number of disorders.<ref>{{citation
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/134329.stm
| date = 17 July 1998
| title = Fresh start for notorious drug
| journal = BBC News
}}</ref> Even though its mechanisms have not been fully characterized, it has a number of unique features.<ref>{{citation
  | journal = Postgrad Med J | year = 2003| volume = 79 | pages = 127-132  
  | journal = Postgrad Med J | year = 2003| volume = 79 | pages = 127-132  
  | doi=10.1136/pmj.79.929.127
  | doi=10.1136/pmj.79.929.127
Line 14: Line 29:
}}</ref>
}}</ref>
==Indications==
==Indications==
It was reintroduced for the narrow indication of preventing and treating severe skin reactions in [[leprosy]], and for [[multiple myeloma]].  Approved usages as an [[orphan drug]] extended to [[AIDS wasting syndrome]],  prevention and treatment of severe recurrent aphthous stomatitis in severely, terminally immunocompromised patients†; prevention and treatment of [[graft-versus-host disease]] in patients receiving bone marrow transplantation; treatment of clinical manifestations of both tuberculous and nontuberculous mycobacterial infection; treatment of [[Crohn’s disease]]; and treatment of primary brain tumors.  
It was reintroduced for the narrow indication of preventing and treating severe skin reactions in [[leprosy]], and for [[multiple myeloma]].  Approved usages as an [[orphan drug]] extended to [[AIDS wasting syndrome]],  prevention and treatment of severe recurrent [[aphthous stomatitis]] in severely, terminally immunocompromised patients; prevention and treatment of [[graft-versus-host disease]] in patients receiving bone marrow transplantation; treatment of clinical manifestations of both tuberculous and nontuberculous mycobacterial infection; treatment of [[Crohn’s disease]]; and treatment of primary brain tumors.  


In addition, thalidomide has been used for the treatment of a variety of inflammatory and/or dermatologic disorders, treatment of various HIV-associated conditions, and treatment of various malignancies. <ref>{{citation
In addition, thalidomide has been used for the treatment of a variety of inflammatory and/or dermatologic disorders, treatment of various HIV-associated conditions, and treatment of various malignancies.<ref>{{citation
  | url = http://www.medscape.com/druginfo/monograph?cid=med&drugid=16389&drugname=Thalidomide+Oral&monotype=monograph&secid=2
  | url = http://www.medscape.com/druginfo/monograph?cid=med&drugid=16389&drugname=Thalidomide+Oral&monotype=monograph&secid=2
  | title = Monograph: Thalidomide &mdash; Uses
  | title = Monograph: Thalidomide &mdash; Uses
Line 22: Line 37:
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


It has been used in [[Behcet's Syndrome]].<ref>{{citation
It has been used in [[Behcet's Syndrome]],<ref>{{citation
| title = Thalidomide in the Treatment of the Mucocutaneous Lesions of the Behcet Syndrome
A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
| author =  Vedat Hamuryudan, ''et al.''
| journal = Ann Intern Med
| date = 15 March 1998 | volume = 128 | issue = 6 | pages = 443-450
| url = http://www.annals.org/content/128/6/443.full}}</ref> which occasioned a discussion of risks and benefits.<ref>{{citation
  | title = Editorial: Behcet Disease and the Emergence of Thalidomide
  | title = Editorial: Behcet Disease and the Emergence of Thalidomide
  | author =George E. Ehrlich  
  | author =George E. Ehrlich  
Line 40: Line 61:
*Possible suppression of macrophage involvement of prostaglandin synthesis and modulation of [[interleukin-10]] and [[interleukin-12]] production by peripheral blood [[monocyte]]s.
*Possible suppression of macrophage involvement of prostaglandin synthesis and modulation of [[interleukin-10]] and [[interleukin-12]] production by peripheral blood [[monocyte]]s.


While its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects are complex, they appear different from those of other agents, including [[corticosteroid]]s, cyclosporin (e.g., [[cyclosporine]]) or macrolide (e.g., [[tacrolimus]]) immunosuppressants, [[pentoxifylline]], immunosuppressive purine analogs (e.g. [[azathioprine]]) and purine metabolism inhibitors (e.g., [[mycophenolic acid]]), and  [[nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug]]s.  
While its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects are complex, they appear different from those of other agents, including [[corticosteroid]]s, cyclosporin (e.g., [[cyclosporine]]) or macrolide (e.g., [[tacrolimus]]) immunosuppressants, [[pentoxifylline]], immunosuppressive purine analogs (e.g. [[azathioprine]]) and purine metabolism inhibitors (e.g., [[mycophenolic acid]]), and  [[Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent]]s.  


It does not appear to interfere with antimicrobial defense mechanisms, lyphocyte proliferation, granuloma formation, and delayed hypersensitivity reactions.  
It does not appear to interfere with antimicrobial defense mechanisms, lymphocyte proliferation, granuloma formation, and delayed hypersensitivity reactions.  
==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|2}}

Latest revision as of 02:45, 21 March 2024

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Structure of thalidomide

Thalidomide is a biological response modifier with an increasing number of applications in severe inflammatory, immune, or dermatologic diseases. It is anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, and immulomodulatory. A piperidinyl isoindole originally introduced as a non-barbiturate hypnotic in the 1950s, it causes extreme fetal malformations or fetal death, and was unavailable for many years.[1]

Thalidomide is absolutely contraindicated in pregnancy. Female patients who receive it must use two forms of contraception or abstain completely from sexual intercourse.

Men taking thalidomide also must use contraception, because it is not known if the birth defects can be passed in sperm.

Patients must not donate blood for at least one year after discontinuing thalidomide therapy.[2]

Physicians are cautiously approaching it for a number of disorders.[3] Even though its mechanisms have not been fully characterized, it has a number of unique features.[4]

Indications

It was reintroduced for the narrow indication of preventing and treating severe skin reactions in leprosy, and for multiple myeloma. Approved usages as an orphan drug extended to AIDS wasting syndrome, prevention and treatment of severe recurrent aphthous stomatitis in severely, terminally immunocompromised patients; prevention and treatment of graft-versus-host disease in patients receiving bone marrow transplantation; treatment of clinical manifestations of both tuberculous and nontuberculous mycobacterial infection; treatment of Crohn’s disease; and treatment of primary brain tumors.

In addition, thalidomide has been used for the treatment of a variety of inflammatory and/or dermatologic disorders, treatment of various HIV-associated conditions, and treatment of various malignancies.[5]

It has been used in Behcet's Syndrome,[6] which occasioned a discussion of risks and benefits.[7]

Pharmacology

While all of its mechanisms are not fully understood, its functions include:[8]

While its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects are complex, they appear different from those of other agents, including corticosteroids, cyclosporin (e.g., cyclosporine) or macrolide (e.g., tacrolimus) immunosuppressants, pentoxifylline, immunosuppressive purine analogs (e.g. azathioprine) and purine metabolism inhibitors (e.g., mycophenolic acid), and Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents.

It does not appear to interfere with antimicrobial defense mechanisms, lymphocyte proliferation, granuloma formation, and delayed hypersensitivity reactions.

References

  1. Anonymous (2024), Thalidomide (English). Medical Subject Headings. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
  2. Thalidomide, National Toxicology, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  3. "Fresh start for notorious drug", BBC News, 17 July 1998
  4. Gordon JN, Goggin PM (2003), "Review: Thalidomide and its derivatives: emerging from the wilderness", Postgrad Med J 79: 127-132, DOI:10.1136/pmj.79.929.127
  5. Monograph: Thalidomide — Uses, American Society of Health System Pharmacists/Medscape
  6. Vedat Hamuryudan, et al. (15 March 1998), "[http://www.annals.org/content/128/6/443.full Thalidomide in the Treatment of the Mucocutaneous Lesions of the Behcet Syndrome A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial]", Ann Intern Med 128 (6): 443-450
  7. George E. Ehrlich (15 March 1998), "Editorial: Behcet Disease and the Emergence of Thalidomide", Ann Intern Med 128 (6): 494-495
  8. Monograph: Thalidomide — Pharmacology, American Society of Health System Pharmacists/Medscape