title: Thalidomide embryopathy: Follow-up of cases born between 1959 and 2010.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thalidomide is a known teratogen and it is estimated that more than ten thousand babies were affected by thalidomide embryopathy (TE), which is characterized mainly by limb defects, but can involve many organs and systems. Most people with TE were only evaluated at birth and it is not well established if thalidomide exposure during embryonic development leads to later effects. We analyzed the clinical history of adults with TE to better understand this gap in the clinical findings of TE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Brazilian individuals with TE were invited to answer a clinical questionnaire which considered family history, social information, medical history, and current clinical and psychological health status. A clinical examination was also performed, including on the infant subjects to evaluate congenital anomalies. The characterization of the features was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square or Fisher's exact test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The congenital anomalies caused by thalidomide were reviewed in 28 Brazilian individuals, and the questionnaire was applied to the 23 adult subjects with TE (aged 19 to 55). Progressive deafness and dental loss were reported. From the comparison of TE individuals with the general Brazilian population, the early onset of cardiovascular diseases (p = 0.009) and a higher frequency of psychological disorders (p = 0.011) were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although there is no sufficient evidence that thalidomide exposure caused or worsened the described events, this approach helps to better understand the TE phenotype, improves the clinical diagnosis, and can lead to adequate health support for these individuals.
authors.affiliation: PPGBM (Programa de Pós Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.|National Institute of Population Medical Genetics, INAGEMP, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thayne Woycinck
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Kowalski
authors.affiliation: PPGBM (Programa de Pós Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.|National Institute of Population Medical Genetics, INAGEMP, Porto Alegre, Brazil.|Teratogen Information Service, Medical Genetics Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa Vieira
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Sanseverino
authors.affiliation: PPGBM (Programa de Pós Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.|National Institute of Population Medical Genetics, INAGEMP, Porto Alegre, Brazil.|Teratogen Information Service, Medical Genetics Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lavinia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schuler-Faccini
authors.affiliation: PPGBM (Programa de Pós Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.|National Institute of Population Medical Genetics, INAGEMP, Porto Alegre, Brazil.|Teratogen Information Service, Medical Genetics Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil.|Programa de Pós Graduação em Epidemiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Sales Luiz
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Vianna
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D017880:Limb Deformities, Congenital / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013792:Thalidomide
keywords: embryopathy; late effects; limb reduction defects; teratogenesis; thalidomide