Talidomida usada por pacientes com eritema nodoso hansênico

Abstract

Thalidomide is a drug currently used in Brazil for treating erythema nodosum leprosum. Methods: This was a prospective study to follow up clinical evolution, record adverse events and determine plasma thalidomide levels from a dose of 100 mg/day, among 20 patients with clinical manifestations of erythema nodosum leprosum, divided into two groups: during or after leprosy multidrug therapy. Results: No significant differences between the groups were seen during the study, either in relation to favorable clinical evolution among the patients (70% and 90%), or in relation to the adverse events recorded, which were dizziness and somnolence. The plasma thalidomide levels on D7 and D14 were 0.82 ± 0.4µg/ml and 0.79 ± 0.3 µg/ml in group 1 and 0.82 ± 0.4 and 1.55 ± 1.0 in group 2, respectively. Conclusions: In this sample, the multidrug therapy had no effect on the clinical evolution, incidence of adverse events and plasma thalidomide levels.