Chasset F, et al. - This paper effectuated an appraisal of the overall response rate of thalidomide in cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), in terms of the CLE subtypes and the occurrence rate of relevant adverse events on the basis of previously published studies. It was recommended that the thalidomide prescription ought to be restricted to severe or with high scarring risk CLE patients, taking into account the frequent occurrence of adverse events.

Methods

• Data was extracted from the MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane library between 1965 and January 2017.
• The proportions of responders and rates of adverse events were cumulated from individual studies and pooled with the aid of random-effects or fixed models.

Results

• The overall response rate to thalidomide was discovered to be 90% (95%CI: 85-94) with similar response rates between CLE subtypes, among 548 patients from 21 included studies.
• In contrast, the pooled rate of thalidomide withdrawal associated with adverse events appeared to be 24% (95%CI: 14-35), with the inclusion of affirmed peripheral neuropathy in 16% (95%CI: 9-25) and thromboembolic events in 2% (95%CI: 1-3).
• The pooled rate of relapse after thalidomide withdrawal was 71% (95%CI: 65-77) than the 34% (95%CI: 25-44) with a maintenance dose.