title: Thalidomide experience of a major Australian teaching hospital.
abstract: St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne cautiously prescribes thalidomide as a treatment for recalcitrant dermatoses. The guidelines used for prescribing and monitoring thalidomide for dermatological conditions at this institution are presented. Fourteen patients were treated with thalidomide (11 women, three men) over a 5-year period. The diagnoses of patients treated were actinic prurigo, prurigo nodularis, lupus erythematosus and Behçet's syndrome. A clinical improvement was noted in 10 patients (71.4%) prescribed thalidomide. Cessation of thalidomide treatment occurred in seven patients (50%) because of adverse effects. Of the patients with adverse effects, four developed abnormal nerve conduction studies and three developed intolerable adverse events (such as dizziness and vomiting). Adverse effects from thalidomide treatment are common but, through vigilant treatment planning, patient education and regular monitoring, the risk of permanent peripheral neuropathy and teratogenicity from thalidomide toxicity can be minimized.
authors.affiliation: The University of Melbourne, Department of Medicine (Dermatology), Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Rohan B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Crouch
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.forename: Jonathan C H
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Christopher S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008178:Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011536:Prurigo / Q000188:drug therapy; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D013792:Thalidomide