title: [Thalidomide in treatment of connective diseases and vasculities].
abstract: Thalidomide is an immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic drug. Thalidomide exerts its effects by decreasing circulating CD4 positive T-cells and stimulating CD8 positive T-cells, by increasing the number of Natural Killer cells and T-helper 2 cells. Thalidomide also inhibits proliferation of stimulated T-cells and leukocyte chemotaxis. It modifies a number of integrin receptors and other leukocytic surface receptors and down-modulates cell-adhesion molecules involved in leukocyte migration. It has been demonstrated that thalidomide inhibits TNFalpha, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12 production and increases production of IL-2, IL-10 and INFgamma. Moreover thalidomide plays an important role in inhibition of VEGF and FGF-2 mediated angiogenesis. Although the exact mechanism of action is not fully understood and only limited treatment opinions exist, thalidomide plays a role also in connective diseases and vasculities. Thalidomide has been seen efficacious in the treatment of cutaneous disorders in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and in mucocutaneous disease in Behcet's disease with a not dose-dependent response, even if it should be restricted to selected patients because of its important side effects.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Reumatologia, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi di Foggia, Foggia, Italia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maruotti
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Cantatore
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ribatti
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D012074:Remission Induction; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013792:Thalidomide