title: F-chronodispersion in patients on thalidomide.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe abnormalities of F-chronodispersion in patients treated with thalidomide.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively studies F-wave latency, persistence and F-chronodispersion in 12 patients on thalidomide treatment and compared them with a control group of another 12 patients with similar dermatological conditions who did not receive thalidomide. Furthermore, we prospectively performed longitudinal neurophysiological studies in 4 patients before and during thalidomide treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven of 12 patients in the retrospective study had abnormal F-chronodispersion while this was normal in all patients of the control group (P = 0.014). All other neurophysiological parameters were similar in the two groups. Two of the thalidomide patients with abnormal F-chronodispersion later developed sensory neuropathy. In all 4 patients in the prospective study though F-chronodispersion was normal before thalidomide it became markedly abnormal after exposure to this drug.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thalidomide may affect smaller diameter motor nerve fibres even before changes in sural sensory nerve action potentials. F-waves and F-chronodispersion should be routinely monitored in patients on thalidomide treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, St. Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Sadoh
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hawk
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Panayiotopoulos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011536:Prurigo / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D013792:Thalidomide