Thalidomide in the treatment of leprosy

Leprosy is a chronic infection of the skin and nerves caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is a reactive state in lepromatous leprosy. Thalidomide has been used to treat ENL since the 1960s. One of its mechanisms of action is anti-inflammatory through selective inhibition of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha produced by monocytes. (C) 2002 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.