Thalidomide and sensory neurotoxicity: A neurophysiological study

¹ University of Padova, Italy

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: gabriella.zara{at}sanita.padova.it.

Accepted 16 April 2008

	Abstract

Background: Recent studies confirmed a high incidence of sensory axonal neuropathy in patients treated with different doses of thalidomide. Our aims were to measure variations in sural nerve sensory action potential (SAP) amplitude in patients with refractory cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) treated with thalidomide and use these findings to identify the neurotoxic potential of thalidomide and the recovery capacity of sensory fibres after discontinuation of treatment.

Patients and Methods: Clinical and electrophysiological data in 12 female patients with CLE during treatment with thalidomide and up to 47 months after discontinuation of treatment were analyzed. Sural nerve SAP amplitude reduction ¡ 40% was the criteria for discontinuing therapy.

Results: During treatment, 11 patients showed a reduction in sural nerve SAP amplitude compared to baseline values (9 with a reduction > 50 % and 2 < 50 %). One patient showed no changes in SAP amplitude. Five patients complained paresthesias and leg cramps. After thalidomide treatment, sural SAP amplitude recovered in 3 patients . At detection of reduction in sural nerve SAP amplitude the median thalidomide cumulative dose was 21,4 g. The threshold neurotoxic dosage is lower than previously reported.

Conclusions: Sural nerve SAP amplitude reduction is a reliable and sensitive marker of sensory fibres degeneration and recovery. This electrophysiological parameter provides information about subclinical neurotoxic potential of thalidomide but is not helpful in predicting the appearance of sensory symptoms.