Rechallenging to Hydroxycarbamide Post Thalidomide Treatment and Response in a Non Transfusion-Dependent Patient, is it Possible?

Abstract

The management of several patients with non transfusion dependent thalassaemia (NTDT) committed to receive regular blood transfusions may be cumbersome because of the occurrence of severe post-transfusion reactions and/or the development of irregular antibodies. We recently reported the case of an untransfusable patient that, because of the inefficacy of the long-term treatment with hydroxicarbamide (HU), was started on continuous low doses of thalidomide as off label therapy, obtaining the improvement in haemoglobin level and in a part of NTDT related complications [1]. Here we report the follow up data related to the interruption of thalidomide treatment, due to side effects, and to the re-challenging to HU.