Successful Thalidomide Treatment of Persistent Chylous Pleural Effusion
Authors: Rachel Pauzner, Haim Mayan, Ana Waizman, Judith Rozenman, Zvi Farfel
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2007)

Letters2 January 2007Successful Thalidomide Treatment of Persistent Chylous Pleural EffusionRachel Pauzner, MD, Haim Mayan, MD, Ana Waizman, MD, Judith Rozenman, MD, and Zvi Farfel, MDRachel Pauzner, MDFrom Sheba Medical Center and Tel Aviv University, Tel Hashomer, Israel., Haim Mayan, MDFrom Sheba Medical Center and Tel Aviv University, Tel Hashomer, Israel., Ana Waizman, MDFrom Sheba Medical Center and Tel Aviv University, Tel Hashomer, Israel., Judith Rozenman, MDFrom Sheba Medical Center and Tel Aviv University, Tel Hashomer, Israel., and Zvi Farfel, MDFrom Sheba Medical Center and Tel Aviv University, Tel Hashomer, Israel.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-146-1-200701020-00022 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Background: Disseminated lymphangiomatosis is characterized by proliferation of lymph vessels in soft tissues, viscera, or bones (1). Chylothorax is a serious manifestation and is typically refractory to several interventions, including chemical pleurodesis, surgical ligation of the thoracic duct, pleuroperitoneal shunt, radiation therapy, pleurectomy, chest wall resection, and antiestrogen drug therapy (2). It is associated with a poor prognosis. Interferon, which is antiangiogenic, has been used successfully in life-threatening hemangiomatosis of infancy and in some cases of disseminated lymphangiomatosis (3, 4). Thalidomide has immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antiangiogenic properties (5). In experimental models, thalidomide inhibits angiogenesis that is induced by vascular endothelial ...References1. Faul JL, Berry GJ, Colby TV, Ruoss SJ, Walter MB, Rosen GD, et al. Thoracic lymphangiomas, lymphangiectasis, lymphangiomatosis, and lymphatic dysplasia syndrome. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2000;161:1037-46. [PMID: 10712360] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Johnson S. Rare diseases. 1. Lymphangioleiomyomatosis: clinical features, management and basic mechanisms. Thorax. 1999;54:254-64. [PMID: 10325903] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Ezekowitz RA, Mulliken JB, Folkman J. Interferon alfa-2a therapy for life-threatening hemangiomas of infancy. N Engl J Med. 1992;326:1456-63. [PMID: 1489383] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Laverdière C, David M, Dubois J, Russo P, Hershon L, Lapierre JG. Improvement of disseminated lymphangiomatosis with recombinant interferon therapy. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2000;29:321-4. [PMID: 10738021] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Matthews SJ, McCoy C. Thalidomide: a review of approved and investigational uses. Clin Ther. 2003;25:342-95. [PMID: 12749503] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. Kerbel R, Folkman J. Clinical translation of angiogenesis inhibitors. Nat Rev Cancer. 2002;2:727-39. [PMID: 12360276] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Rachel Pauzner, MD; Haim Mayan, MD; Ana Waizman, MD; Judith Rozenman, MD; Zvi Farfel, MDAffiliations: From Sheba Medical Center and Tel Aviv University, Tel Hashomer, Israel.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoCorrection: Successful Thalidomide Treatment of Persistent Chylous Pleural Effusion Metrics Cited byLaparoscopy for evaluating mesenteric lymphangiomatosis: A case reportDaratumumab, Lenalidomide, and Dexamethasone (DRD), an Active Regimen in the Treatment of Immunosuppression-Associated Plasmablastic Lymphoma (PBL) in the Setting of Gorham's Lymphangiomatosis: Review of the LiteratureLymphangiomatosis associated with protein losing enteropathy: A case reportNovel molecular pathways in Gorham disease: Implications for treatmentA Pleural Effusion with an Unusual CauseAn 11-Year-Old Boy With Respiratory Failure and Massive Pleural Fluid DrainageRecurrent hemorrhagic pericardial effusion in a child due to diffuse lymphangiohemangiomatosis: a case reportCase 23-2010: Unusual Paraprotein Effects in MGUS — Treat or Not?Diffuse Lymphangiomatosis—A Fatal Case With Atypical Skeletal FeaturesDisseminated bone lymphangiomatosisCorrection: Successful Thalidomide Treatment of Persistent Chylous Pleural Effusion 2 January 2007Volume 146, Issue 1Page: 75-76KeywordsBoneChylothoraxDiagnostic radiologyInterferonsOsteomyelitisPleural effusionSurgical resectionThoraxVascular endothelial growth factorVertebrae ePublished: 2 January 2007 Issue Published: 2 January 2007 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2007 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...