Thalidomide: A re-look

Thalidomide was synthesized in 1954 in erstwhile West Germany and marketed as a sedative in over 46 countries until the early 1960s, Owing to serious teratogenic effects, the drug was withdrawn from the market in 1961, A chan ce observation suggested the utility of thalidomide in erythema nodosum lep rosum (ENL). After many controlled and uncontrolled trials were published, the World Health Organization recommended Its use in ENL, The Food and Drug Administration, USA approved it for use in ENL in July 1998, Only establis hed and well-defined studies conducted to substantiate the efficacy of thal idomide have been included in this review. Thalidomide is considered the dr ug of choice for the treatment of ENL, but for other conditions, it is reco mmended only when resistance to the currently available form of therapy is encountered. Once the anti-inflammatory, immuno-modulatory, anti-TNF-alpha and and-angiogenic properties of thalidomide were discovered, it was also t ried in AIDS and related wasting, apthous ulcers, microsporidiosis and Kapo si's sarcoma, Thalidomide has no clinical place as an immunosuppressant in solid organ transplantation. However, it has a therapeutic role in graft-ve rus-host-disease. Among the dermatological conditions, thalidomide has been found to be effective in systemic lupus erythematosus, discoid lupus eryth ematosus, actinic prurigo and prurigo nodularis. Used correctly, it is a sa fe and effective medicine (except for its teratogenic potential and delayed neuropathy) in a variety of disease conditions.