• Yên Thi Nguyen, Alain Dupuy, Florence Cordoliani, Marie Dominique Vignon-Pennamen, Céleste Lebbé, Patrice Morel, and Michel Rybojad.
• Dermatology Department, Hôspital Saint-Louis, Paris, France.
• J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 2004 Feb 1;50(2):235-41.

BackgroundAlthough systemic corticosteroids are effective against cutaneous sarcoidosis, alternative therapies are needed.ObjectiveWe sought to assess the efficacy and tolerance of thalidomide for cutaneous sarcoidosis.MethodsWe performed a retrospective evaluation of thalidomide (100-200 mg/d) in 12 consecutive patients with cutaneous sarcoidosis treated in a university hospital between 2000 and 2002.ResultsCutaneous lesions regressed within 1 to 5 months, with an average time of 2 to 3 months for 10 patients. In all, 4 patients achieved complete responses, 6 had partial responses, and 2 had no regression. Nasopharyngeal, pulmonary neurologic, and hepatic symptoms were also attenuated. Thalidomide was well tolerated. The main adverse effect was deep vein thrombosis in 1 patient.ConclusionThalidomide efficacy and tolerance in patients with cutaneous sarcoidosis merits further evaluation in a controlled trial.

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