title: Thalidomide-associated thrombosis in the treatment of HIV-associated severe aphthous disease: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Venous thrombosis is a well-described complication of thalidomide therapy in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). However, an association between thalidomide use and thrombosis in HIV-positive patients has not been previously described. We present the case of a 48-year-old HIV-positive man who developed a deep venous thrombosis while on thalidomide for the treatment of severe aphthous ulcers. We review the management of severe aphthous disease and the potential adverse effects of thalidomide therapy. We examine the association between thalidomide and thrombosis in patients with MM and discuss how the same relationship may or may not exist in HIV-positive patients. Although the strength of the association between thalidomide use and thrombosis in HIV-positive patients being treated for aphthous disease remains unclear, HIV providers should be aware of the potential risk of thrombosis in all patients receiving thalidomide.
authors.affiliation: 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Aimee C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Hodowanec
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: Paul G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Rubinstein
authors.forename: Blake
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Max
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013792:Thalidomide