Thalidomide syndrome in Brazil: Still a current problem

A Literature Review of the Causes of Congenital Limb Deficiencies Over the Last 20 Years

“…This study defined a case as whether specific CLDs were present and compared this with the number of thalidomide tablets distributed. A reported 27.9% increase in cases of CLDs for every 100,000 thalidomide tablets dispensed was shown through this study (14) which supports the knowledge of thalidomide being a teratogen.…”

“…Within the literature studied in this review, authors used various classification systems including the ICD codes (10,14,16,22,30), EUROCAT (12), one study using the IFSSH (28), a combination of different systems (28) or mainly using one system with additions specific to the results observed (24). Other studies did not use a specific classification system and justbut rather split divided the results into general groupings (17-21, 23, 27) or developed their own groupings based on results or previous literature (11,29).…”

“…Only seven7 authors included all live or still born and terminations (2,10,12,16,18,24,29). Two authors included live and still born but not terminations (27,28) and a large group of authors just included live births (14,(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)30). In the remaining studies it was not clear what birth outcomes were included (11,17,26).…”

“…Thalidomide is a drug that is known for its teratogenic effects after the epidemic in the 1960s resulting in its withdrawal from the market, with the limbs being the most commonly affected (14). This drug in the UK now tends to only be used for treating myelomas when high-dose chemotherapy is not feasible and there are precautions in place when a womenwoman of child bearing potential is using thalodomidethis drug (15).…”

“…This drug in the UK now tends to only be used for treating myelomas when high-dose chemotherapy is not feasible and there are precautions in place when a womenwoman of child bearing potential is using thalodomidethis drug (15). The research presented by Vianna (14) was based in Brazil where thalidomide is more commonly used for the treatment of erythema nodosum leprosum, an inflammatory condition commonly seen in people with leprosy which has a high prevalence in Brazil ( 14). This study defined a case as whether specific CLDs were present and compared this with the number of thalidomide tablets distributed.…”