title: Systemic use of non-biologic agents in orofacial diseases: other immunomodulatory agents.
abstract: Systemic non-biologic agents have long been in clinical use in medicine--often with considerable efficacy, albeit with some adverse effects--as with all medications. With the advent of biologic agents, all of which currently are restricted to systemic use, there is a growing need to ensure which agents have the better therapeutic ratio. The non-biologic agents (NBAs) include a range of agents, most importantly the corticosteroids (steroids). Previous articles by us in this series have discussed systemic use of corticosteroids and purine synthesis inhibitors; the other immunomodulating agents (calcineurin inhibitors, thalidomide, dapsone, colchicine and cyclophosphamide) are reviewed in this final article.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Histology-Embryology, Molecular Carcinogenesis Group, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Georgakopoulou
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scully
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003078:Colchicine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003622:Dapsone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050257:Tubulin Modulators / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D050257:Tubulin Modulators; D013792:Thalidomide; D016572:Cyclosporine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D003622:Dapsone; D003078:Colchicine; D016559:Tacrolimus
keywords: calcineurin inhibitors; colchicine; cyclophosphamide; dapsone; immunomodulatory agents; orofacial diseases; thalidomide