Sural nerve injury in Behçet's disease patients treated with thalidomide.

Introduction: Thalidomide has shown exceptional results in the management of Behçet's disease. Despite its efficacy, thalidomide is associated with a number of adverse effects, including peripheral neuropathy. This study aims to characterize the pathologic features of neuropathy in Behçet's disease patients who received thalidomide therapy.

Materials and methods: Consecutive adult Behçet's disease patients who received thalidomide and developed neuropathy were collected. Clinical manifestations, electrophysiologic evaluations, and pathologic findings were studied.

Results: Three patients who met the inclusion criteria were collected. Sensory deficits, particularly in the lower extremities, emerged in a length-dependent manner 6 - 12 months after initiation of thalidomide therapy. Symptoms remained unchanged after discontinuation of thalidomide for 2 years. Electrophysiologic evaluations showed sensory axonal polyneuropathy in all 3 patients who also received sural nerve biopsy. Histological findings confirmed axonal degenerations. A noteworthy finding was neurofilament accumulation in both myelinated and unmyelinated axons.

Discussion: Sensory fibers, particularly in the lower extremities, were susceptible to thalidomide therapy. The features of thalidomide-induced neuropathy are characterized as axonal degeneration.

Conclusion: Earlier recognition of thalidomide-induced sensory axonal neuropathy should be carried out in patients with Behçet's disease during the thalidomide therapy.