title: The role of thalidomide in the treatment of refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease following bone marrow transplantation in children.
abstract: Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is a frequent complication of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Thalidomide was found to have immunosuppressive properties and it has been used in a limited number of children with cGVHD. We report our experience with refractory and/or high-risk cGVHD in 14 children. Six children showed complete clinical response to thalidomide in a median time of 2 months. Four children had partial responses and four failed. Side-effects were usually mild (somnolence, constipation) and only two patients developed sensory peripheral neuropathy. An increased incidence of infectious complications attributable to thalidomide was not observed. Nine out of 10 responding patients are alive 49-111 months post-BMT. Thalidomide can be effective particularly in children with prevailing mucocutaneous cGVHD. All patients should be carefully monitored to detect peripheral neuropathy early.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Pediatrica dell'Università di Milano, Ospedale San Gerardo, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rovelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arrigo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nesi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balduzzi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nicolini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Locasciulli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vassallo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miniero
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Uderzo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000628:therapy; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007938:Leukemia / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013792:Thalidomide