Thalidomide in the treatment of refractory rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To review outcomes in 10 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with thalidomide. METHODS: We reviewed our experience with 10 patients treated with thalidomide using a standard therapeutic protocol and standard outcome measures. RESULTS: We observed no significant improvement in any outcome measure, likely as a consequence of the limited duration of therapy related to thalidomide toxicity. CONCLUSION: Formal studies of the efficacy of thalidomide in RA are required with alternative doses of the compound used by us, or with compounds derived from other sources.