Thalidomide in the treatment of leprosy

Microbes Infect. 2002 Sep;4(11):1193-202. doi: 10.1016/s1286-4579(02)01645-3.

Abstract

Leprosy is a chronic infection of the skin and nerves caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is a reactive state in lepromatous leprosy. Thalidomide has been used to treat ENL since the 1960s. One of its mechanisms of action is anti-inflammatory through selective inhibition of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha produced by monocytes.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Erythema Nodosum / drug therapy
  • Erythema Nodosum / pathology
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Leprostatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Leprosy / drug therapy*
  • Leprosy / pathology
  • Leprosy / transmission
  • Leprosy, Lepromatous / drug therapy
  • Leprosy, Lepromatous / pathology
  • Models, Molecular
  • Mycobacterium leprae / pathogenicity
  • Thalidomide / adverse effects
  • Thalidomide / pharmacokinetics
  • Thalidomide / pharmacology
  • Thalidomide / therapeutic use*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Leprostatic Agents
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Thalidomide