Thalidomide for the treatment of recalcitrant oral Crohn's disease and orofacial granulomatosis.

Abstract

It has been suggested that thalidomide may be effective in the management of Crohn's disease, including the associated oral lesions. We detail the clinical response to low-dose thalidomide of 5 patients with clinical features of orofacial granulomatosis or oral Crohn's disease recalcitrant to recognized immunosuppressant therapy. All patients had clinical resolution of their symptoms and signs. Transient somnolence was the only reported adverse effect. Remission was maintained by extending the period between thalidomide doses. Thalidomide should be considered an effective therapy for the short-term treatment of severe orofacial granulomatosis in appropriately counseled patients.

• Authors: Anne Hegarty, Tim Hodgson, Stephen Porter
• Journal: Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology, oral radiology, and endodontics (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod) Vol. 95 Issue 5 Pg. 576-85 (May 2003) ISSN: 1079-2104 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12738949 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Thalidomide

Topics

• Adolescent
• Child
• Crohn Disease (drug therapy)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Granuloma (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Immunosuppressive Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Lip Diseases (drug therapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mouth Diseases (drug therapy)
• Oral Ulcer (drug therapy)
• Palate (drug effects)
• Pharyngeal Diseases (drug therapy)
• Recurrence
• Remission Induction
• Thalidomide (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Tongue Diseases (drug therapy)