Innovative uses of thalidomide.
Thalidomide is approved for treating erythema nodosum leprosum and multiple myeloma, but it has also emerged as a useful treatment option for many refractory dermatologic disorders. Some of the innovative but off-label uses of thalidomide include aphthous stomatitis, Behçet's disease, lupus erythematosus, prurigo nodularis, sarcoidosis, actinic prurigo, graft-versus-host disease, Langerhans cell histiocytosis, erythema multiforme, lichen planus, Kaposi sarcoma, Jessner lymphocytic infiltrate, uremic pruritus, pyoderma gangrenosum, scleroderma, scleromyxedema, and necrobiosis lipoidica. This article reviews the background, pharmacology, and innovative uses of thalidomide in dermatology.
Chen
Meng
M
Department of Dermatology, Baylor College of Medicine, BCM Debakey Building M220, One Baylor Plaza, Mail Stop BCM368, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Doherty
Sean D
SD
Hsu
Sylvia
S
D000075202:Contraindications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D056687:Off-Label Use; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D035703:Therapies, Investigational
D007917:Leprostatic Agents; D013792:Thalidomide