Treatment of cutaneous and pulmonary sarcoidosis with thalidomide

doi:10.1016/0190-9622(95)91549-4

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Volume 32, Issue 5, Part 2, May 1995, Pages 866-869

https://doi.org/10.1016/0190-9622(95)91549-4 Get rights and content

Abstract

Many therapeutic agents have been proposed for treatment of steroid-resistant sarcoidosis. Because administration of low doses of thalidomide has been successful in treating other inflammatory diseases, it was used in a patient with systemic sarcoidosis who was unresponsive to corticosteroids and in a patient with pulmonary sarcoidosis, in whom Kaposi's sarcoma developed after a course of corticosteroid therapy. Thalidomide, 200 mg/day for 2 weeks followed by 100 mg/day for 11 weeks, was given. This treatment was effective in both patients. No adverse reactions were observed. Thalidomide, 100 mg on alternate days, is still being administered. No relapse has occurred. Thalidomide, particularly because of its inhibition of the macrophage function, may be a useful alternative therapy in steroid-resistant cases. In addition, the correlation between the angiotensin-converting enzyme level and the clinical improvement observed in our patients suggests a direct parallel between angiotensin-converting enzyme and the activity of the granulomatous process.

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Case reportTreatment of cutaneous and pulmonary sarcoidosis with thalidomide

Abstract

J Am Acad Dermatol

Am J Med

Chest

J Am Acad Dermatol

J Am Acad Dermatol

J Am Acad Dermatol

Lancet

Lancet

Am J Med

Sarcoidosis

Correlation between cutaneous sarcoidosis and systemic sarcoidosis

Acta Derm Venereol

Cutaneous manifestations of sarcoidosis. Relationships to other organ system involvement, abnormal laboratory measurements, and disease course

Arch Intern Med

Serum angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in evaluating the clinical course of sarcoidosis

Ann Intern Med

Bilan d'une sarcoidose cutanèe

Ann Dermatol Venereol

Serum angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in evaluating the clinical course of sarcoidosis

Ann Intern Med

Elevated serum angiotensin I converting enzyme in sarcoidosis

Am Rev Respir Dis

Nonviable autologous bronchoalveolar lavage cell preparations induce intradermal epithelioid cell granulomas in sarcoidosis patients

Am Rev Respir Dis

Current concepts in the management of sarcoidosis

Drugs

Treatment of cutaneous sarcoidosis with chloroquine

Arch Dermatol

Azathioprine treatment of chronic pulmonary sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis

Cyclosporin for pulmonary sarcoidosis

Lancet

Case report
Treatment of cutaneous and pulmonary sarcoidosis with thalidomide