Thalidomide: An option for the pediatric patient with actinic prurigo

Abstract

Actinic prurigo (AP) is an immune‐mediated photodermatosis that usually starts in childhood and is predominant among American indigenous and mestizo communities. In adults with AP, thalidomide is the treatment of choice; however, there is little information on its use in pediatric patients. We report the case of a 10‐year‐old girl with AP treated successfully with thalidomide.

Dupilumab as treatment of actinic prurigo suggests pathophysiologic mechanism of disease: A case series

“… 1 AP patients usually require chronic therapy, and the potentially severe side effects particularly with chronic use of thalidomide and cyclosporine limit their utility, especially in the pediatric population. 1 , 3 Antimalarials and phototherapy with narrowband UV-B or psoralen plus UV-A have also been used to desensitize patients to UV activity. 4…”

Severe chronic actinic dermatitis treated successfully with Thalidomide

“…Thalidomide is an immunomodulator treatment used in multiple inflammatory disorders 6 . Its use in several photodermatosis, particularly lupus erythematous 7 and actinic prurigo, 8 had shown good results. Its mode of action in the case of CAD is poorly understood.…”

Clearance of pediatric actinic prurigo with dupilumab

“…Photoprotective strategies, topical corticosteroids, and antihistamines rarely achieve adequate symptomatic control. Thalidomide and cyclosporine can be effective, but side effects limit their use 2,3 …”