Thalidomide-Associated Thrombosis in the Treatment of HIV-Associated Severe Aphthous Disease

Abstract

Venous thrombosis is a well-described complication of thalidomide therapy in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). However, an association between thalidomide use and thrombosis in HIV-positive patients has not been previously described. We present the case of a 48-year-old HIV-positive man who developed a deep venous thrombosis while on thalidomide for the treatment of severe aphthous ulcers. We review the management of severe aphthous disease and the potential adverse effects of thalidomide therapy. We examine the association between thalidomide and thrombosis in patients with MM and discuss how the same relationship may or may not exist in HIV-positive patients. Although the strength of the association between thalidomide use and thrombosis in HIV-positive patients being treated for aphthous disease remains unclear, HIV providers should be aware of the potential risk of thrombosis in all patients receiving thalidomide.

Cardiovascular events associated with thalidomide and prednisone in leprosy type 2 reaction

“…Until recently, this risk was attributed to the underlying hematological disease; on the other hand, mainly in the last two decades, several reports of thromboembolic events in patients using thalidomide and corticosteroids together in conditions other than multiple myeloma have been published, with several cases highlighted in leprosy patients. 5 , 6 …”

Coexpression Analysis of Transcriptome on AIDS and Other Human Disease Pathways by Canonical Correlation Analysis

“…HIV-associated sensory neuropathy is also a complication of HIV infection [3]. Recently, venous thrombosis has been described as a disease associated with HIV-positive patients [4]. Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a life-threatening complication of HIV infection [5].…”