Thalidomide and recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a follow-up study.

BACKGROUND

Thalidomide is used for the symptomatic treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). Some authors reported remissions, but this was not evaluated.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the number of patients who could stop or reduce thalidomide treatment.

METHODS

Twenty-five patients with RAS treated with thalidomide and followed during at least 1 year were retrospectively studied.

RESULTS

Six patients could stop the treatment and further presented minor aphthae, 10 needed minimal daily doses of thalidomide and 7 did not respond to 100 mg daily. One patient was not evaluated because of an early side effect and one was lost to follow-up.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that a minority of patients responded and could stop thalidomide therapy whereas another group of patients could be maintained in remission with low doses of thalidomide which may represent a means to reduce the potentially severe side effects.