[Interest in thalidomide in cutaneo-mucous and hypothalamo-hypophyseal involvement of Langerhans cell histiocytosis].

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Histiocytosis X or Langerhans cell granuloma is a rare disease characterised by the proliferation of phagocytes which have normal cell markers.

EXEGESIS:

We report the case of a 44-year old woman with hypothalamo-hypophyseal Langerhans cell histiocytosis with genital and oral cutaneo-mucous involvements. After several non-active treatments, thalidomide began. Oral and genital lesions healed quickly. Recurrence of symptoms was observed six months after the treatment was stopped and a complete remission was obtained when thalidomide was reintroduced. The regression of hypothalam-hypophyseal granuloma infiltration was confirmed by MRI and the treatment was well tolerated by the patient.

CONCLUSION:

Cutaneo-mucous Langerhans cell disease as well as hypothalamo-hypophyseal histiocytosis may both benefit from a treatment with thalidomide.

• Authors: A Claudon, J L Dietemann, A Hamman De Compte, P Hassler
• Journal: La Revue de medecine interne (Rev Med Interne) Vol. 23 Issue 7 Pg. 651-6 (Jul 2002) ISSN: 0248-8663 [Print] France
• Vernacular Title: Intérêt du thalidomide au cours des localisations cutanéomuqueuses et hypothalamohypophysaires de l'histiocytose langerhansienne.
• PMID: 12162220 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Thalidomide

Topics

• Adult
• Female
• Genital Diseases, Female (drug therapy, etiology)
• Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell (complications, drug therapy)
• Humans
• Hypothalamic Diseases (drug therapy, etiology)
• Immunosuppressive Agents (pharmacology)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Mouth Diseases (drug therapy, etiology)
• Mouth Mucosa (pathology)
• Pituitary Diseases (drug therapy, etiology)
• Skin Diseases (drug therapy, etiology)
• Thalidomide (pharmacology)