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Thalidomide and recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a follow-up study
J M Bonnetblanc1, C Royer, C Bedane
1Department of Dermatology, CHRU Dupuytren, Limoges, France.
Background:
Thalidomide is used for the symptomatic treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). Some authors reported remissions, but this was not evaluated.
Objective:
To evaluate the number of patients who could stop or reduce thalidomide treatment.
Methods:
Twenty-five patients with RAS treated with thalidomide and followed during at least 1 year were retrospectively studied.
Results:
Six patients could stop the treatment and further presented minor aphthae, 10 needed minimal daily doses of thalidomide and 7 did not respond to 100 mg daily. One patient was not evaluated because of an early side effect and one was lost to follow-up.
Conclusion:
This study showed that a minority of patients responded and could stop thalidomide therapy whereas another group of patients could be maintained in remission with low doses of thalidomide which may represent a means to reduce the potentially severe side effects.