The role of thalidomide in dermatology.

Thalidomide is a medication which has been in existence for over half a century and has proven to be useful and effective in severe dermatological conditions. For dermatologists, the drug's ability to reduce the levels of the cytokine (tumour necrosis factor-alpha), alongside its immunomodulatory and anti-angiogenic properties is of great significance, with the added advantage of being an oral medication. It's use is of course strictly monitored due to its potential side-effects with precautions taken to ensure its safe and correct use by both prescriber and patient. In this review, we look at the background and mechanism of action of thalidomide, provide an overview of conditions it can be used for with case examples, explain the potential side-effects, monitoring requirements and future developments.