A single-centre retrospective review of treatment responses and adverse events of thalidomide in patients with inflammatory skin disease.

This article presents a retrospective review of the use of thalidomide in the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases. Thalidomide, which was initially marketed as a sedative in the 1950s but later withdrawn due to severe birth defects, has seen a resurgence in recent years for the treatment of conditions such as actinic prurigo, nodular prurigo, and lupus erythematosus. The study found that thalidomide was effective in managing these dermatoses, particularly actinic prurigo. However, adverse events were common, with peripheral neuropathy being a severe and frequent side effect, especially in patients with lupus erythematosus. Thromboembolic events were infrequent and occurred in predisposed patients. The study suggests that thalidomide use should be limited to severe, refractory cases and that lower doses should be used when possible. Additionally, lenalidomide may be a safer alternative to thalidomide. Counseling on modifiable risk factors for thromboembolic events is also recommended for patients receiving thalidomide. [Extracted from the article]