TreatmentUpdate59; Vol 7, No. 5 - May 1995
Sean Hosein

Researchers at Cambridge University have been conducting experiments on healthy humans, 10 of whom received the tranquilizer thalidomide 200 mg/day and 6 others who did not. Results of immunologic tests clearly showed that thalidomide appear to 'switch' the immune response to one based on humoral immunity where antibody-producing B-cells play a major role. This 'switch' may, in the long term, cause serious consequences. For details please see TreatmentUpdate 56. The Cambridge researchers warn that thalidomide may weaken the immune system's ability to fight life-threatening infections.

REFERENCES:

1. McHugh SM, Rifkin R, Deighton J, et al. The immunosuppressive drug thalidomide induces T helper cell type 2 (Th2) and concomitantly inhibits Th1 cytokine production in mitogen-and antigen-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures. Clinical and Experimental Immunology 1995;99:160-167.

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