Thalidomide in the treatment of refractory rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To review outcomes in 10 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with thalidomide.


METHODS
We reviewed our experience with 10 patients treated with thalidomide using a standard therapeutic protocol and standard outcome measures.


RESULTS
We observed no significant improvement in any outcome measure, likely as a consequence of the limited duration of therapy related to thalidomide toxicity.


CONCLUSIONS
Formal studies of the efficacy of thalidomide in RA are required with alternative doses of the compound used by us, or with compounds derived from other sources.
Keesal
N
N
Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Centre for Advanced Therapeutics in Arthritis, Mount Sinai Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
Wasserman
M J
MJ
Bookman
A
A
Lapp
V
V
Weber
D A
DA
Keystone
E C
EC
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013792:Thalidomide