In 1961 the
drug thalidomide, widely used to
treat nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, was found to be associated with a syndrome of congenital malformations, particularly a severe handicapping abnormality of the arms. About 10,000 such children were born worldwide, with 5,000 in Germany alone. (Doubts concerning the drug's safety had prevented its sale in the United States.) The tragedy led to stringent governmental regulations for testing new drugs for teratogenic (malformation-inducing) hazards.
thalidomide has been found to be an
effective treatment for the symptoms of leprosy and has been approved (1998) for this use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. However, the drug will be distributed with multiple warnings regarding its effects on unborn babies. The drug can also treat mouth ulcers in people with AIDS. Researchers are studying thalidomide for its immunosuppressive properties, which could help treat discoid lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and graft-versus-host disease. It has been found to inhibit tumor growth and may be effective against cancer. It may also halt eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration.
More abstracts about the THALIDOMIDE