Klin Farmakol Farm. 2007;21(3):128-132

Thaliomide - new comeback

Miloš Jeseňák⁵, MUDr. Zuzana Lietavová⁵, MUDr. Alena Szökeová⁵, MUDr. Peter Lietava¹, MUDr. Ivana Plameňová², MUDr. Miloš Mráz³, Mgr. Eva Babušíková PhD⁴, Ján Buchanec⁵, prof. MUDr. Peter Bánovčin CSc⁶

¹ Oddelenie gastro-enterologickej diagnostiky, II. interná klinika, Jesseniova lekárska fakulta, Univerzita Komenského, Martin

² Klinika hematológie a transfúziológie, Jesseniova lekárska fakulta, Univerzita Komenského, Martin

³ III. interní klinika VFN a 1. LF UK, Praha

⁴ Ústav lekárskej biochémie, Jesseniova lekárska fakulta UK, Martin

⁵ Klinika detí a dorastu UK JLF a MFN v Martine

⁶ Klinika detí a dorastu, JLF UK a MFN, Martin

Thalidomide (THD) has been recently introduced into therapeutical algorithms of many diseases (especially oncological and inflammatory) with poor response to standard therapy. The characteristic effect of THD is immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, antiangiogenic, antitumorous and virostatic. The main known mechanism of THD is inhibition of TNF-α system, correction of disbalance in cytokine net, stimulation of TH2 cells and inhibition of TH1 cells, increase of cytotoxicity of NK cells and changes in the profile of adhesive and communication molecules on the surfaces of various cells (blood cells, endothelium, tumour cells). The first two diseases with successful effect of THD were erythema nodosum leprosum and multiple myeloma. Now THD is widely tested in the treatment of many diseases (in dermatology, oncology, haematology, gastroenterology, pulmology, rheumatology, neurology, etc.). It can be used in adults and also in children, as monotherapy or in combination with other medicaments. THD was approved for the therapy of erythema nodosum leprosum and multiple myeloma. Very hopeful are two new groups of agents derived from thalidomide with minimum of side effects and with larger spectrum of action (SelCIDs, selective cytokine inhibitory drugs and IMiDs, immunomodulatory drugs).

Keywords: Thalidomide, immunomodulans, biologic based therapy

Published: January 1, 2008  Show citation