Thalidomide in the treatment of leprosy.
Leprosy is a chronic infection of the skin and nerves caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is a reactive state in lepromatous leprosy. Thalidomide has been used to treat ENL since the 1960s. One of its mechanisms of action is anti-inflammatory through selective inhibition of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha produced by monocytes.
D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004893:Erythema Nodosum / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007918:Leprosy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000472:pathogenicity; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D007917:Leprostatic Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013792:Thalidomide