Thalidomide: The Tragedy of Birth Defects and the Effective Treatment of Disease

Thalidomide: The Tragedy of Birth Defects and the Effective Treatment of Disease

Thalidomide, a name etched in medical history for its tragic consequences, yet hailed for its therapeutic potential. A paradoxical tale of despair and hope, exploring the devastating birth defects it caused and its unexpected efficacy in treating certain diseases.

Thalidomide was first marketed in the late 1950s as a sedative and was used in the treatment of nausea in pregnant women

Within a few years of its widespread use in Europe, Australia, and Japan, approximately 10,000 children were born with phocomelia, leading to the ban of the drug in most countries in 1961.

Drug-induced vascular injury (DIVI) is observed in rat mesenteric arterioles in response to treatment with phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors (PDE4i)

However, the mechanisms responsible for causing the characteristic vascular lesions are unclear.

Current and Future Challenges

Recent studies have investigated the association of thalidomide-associated peripheral neuropathy with single nucleotide polymorphisms in 1495 multiple myeloma patients.

Challenges

Prevention of inadvertent exposure of pregnant women to this drug is a continuing challenge, particularly in parts of the world where access to the drug is less restricted than in the United States.

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