[Fwd: Thalidomide is an effective therapy for corticosteroid resistant systemic onset JIA]

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--- Thalidomide is an effective therapy for corticosteroid

resistant systemic onset JIA

Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 00:41:16 -1000

From: Georgina <gmckin@...>

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Thalidomide for Severe Systemic Onset JIA

Our previous reports have documented the efficacy of thalidomide therapy

for children with corticosteroid dependent systemic onset JIA at a

single center. This report documents the expanded experience of 13

patients with corticosteroid dependent JIA at four separate centers.

All children had severe corticosteroid dependent systemic onset JIA at

study entry. All received thalidomide 3 – 5 mg/kg/day. Prednisone

dosage, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), hemoglobin (Hb), white

blood cell count (WBC) and joint count were recorded prior to treatment

and at 6, 12, and 24 months after treatment was begun.

These data, from multiple investigators at different centers,

demonstrate that thalidomide is an effective therapy for corticosteroid

resistant systemic onset JIA. Its use is associated with a dramatic

improvement in HB, ESR, and Joint count, with a simultaneous reduction

in prednisone dosage over both 6 months and two years.

Sharon J. Schechter1, Sundel2, Sheila K. Oliveira3,

Huttenlocher4, Onel1, J. A. Lehman1. 1Hospital for Special

Surgery, New York, NY; 2Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; 3Universidade

Federal Rio De Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil; 4University of Wisconsin

Medical School, Madison, WI