Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0012833 (dizziness)
 9,689 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Thalidomide has been reported to be an effective therapy for painful oral (mouth) ulcerations associated with AIDS that do not respond to the usual treatment options available. Thalidomide was first developed and marketed in Germany in the 1950s as a sedative. It was withdrawn in 1962 when it was recognized to cause birth defects. Possessing no antibacterial activity, thalidomide is now used to treat a variety of diseases with an autoimmune character. It is unclear how it works to modulate the immune system or whether or not it will accelerate the deterioration of the immunological status of HIV-positive patients. One study suggests that it may suppress HIV viral replication and decrease viral burden. Thalidomide inhibits tumor necrosis factor (TNF). It affects the nervous system, often causing side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, decreased libido and mood changes, as well as peripheral neuropathy. However, most of the neuropathy cases occurred in patients who had received a high dose for longer than six months. Response to thalidomide occurs at doses ranging from 100mg a day to 400 mg a day, with ulcer pain resolving within two to four days. Randomized placebo-controlled, double-blinded studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of thalidomide in HIV-positive persons with aphthous ulcers. The AIDS Clinical Trials Unit is doing a six month study comparing thalidomide to placebo for treatment of aphthous ulcers of mouth and esophagus.
STEP Perspect 1995
PMID:Thalidomide: an alternative therapy for treatment of apthous ulcers (canker sores). 1136 97