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.