Thalidomide for the therapy of graft-versus-host disease following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.
The immunosuppressive effects of the sedative drug thalidomide have been utilised in a variety of immune disorders. In the present study, 6 patients were treated who developed graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) with thalidomide and in a dose range of 200-600 mg daily. Two of 3 patients with chronic GvHD showed clear improvement, whereas none of the 3 patients with acute GvHD derived unequivocal benefit. Although based on a small number of patients, these data suggest that thalidomide may find a useful place in the therapy of GvHD, perhaps specifically in the chronic form of this disorder.
McCarthy
D M
DM
Department of Haematology, Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, London, UK.
Kanfer
E J
EJ
Barrett
A J
AJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D013792:Thalidomide