Efficacy of Thalidomide in the Treatment of Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia

In the management of HHT epistaxis, multiple approaches have been tried, including electrocautery, laser, embolization, arterial ligation, but all approaches are largely palliative with variable results, many requiring repeated interventions. Except for nasal closure, surgical options offer, at best, limited hemorrhage-free intervals, but no definitive results and all have side effects. Moreover, currently, there is no established medical treatment available for these patients. To limit blood loss, the few medical treatments used include manipulation of the coagulation and fibrinolytic pathways or topical applications of anti-inflammatory drugs. However, multiple lesions disseminated over the entire mucosal surface are common in affected individuals, making local treatment difficult. Re-bleeding consumes a disproportionate share of healthcare resources devoted to multiple admissions, repeated endoscopies and blood transfusions.

Recently, angiogenesis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of HHT. Circulating concentrations of both TGF-beta and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are significantly elevated and therefore, anti-angiogenic substances may be effective in the treatment of vascular malformations in this disease.

Thalidomide functions as a potent immunosuppressive and antiangiogenic agent by inhibiting the phagocytic ability of inflammatory cells and the production of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a). It has been shown to be effective in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, in conditions associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and in various cancers. Bleeding inhibition has been observed in HHT patients who received thalidomide as an antiangiogenic cancer therapy. A recent paper has reported that thalidomide treatment induced vessel maturation in an experimental model of HHT and reduced severe nosebleeds in six of the seven HHT patients studied. On the other hand, spectacular improvements have been described in patients with intestinal angiodysplasias, treated with thalidomide. In isolated case reports, patients with severe recurrent intestinal bleeding refractory to standard treatment achieved prolonged complete remission with thalidomide at a dose of 100 to 300 mg/day for a few months and tolerance was good. Cessation of bleeding was associated with a reduction in serum VEGF levels. These observations suggest that thalidomide might be useful for treatment of HHT patients and address significant unmet medical needs. Unfortunately, this drug exposes patients to the risk of severe side effects.

Drug metabolism is under control of a number of enzymes specific for each drug; among these enzymes, many show variable levels of activity and we can thus recognize in the population extensive (high or fast) metabolizers (EM) intermediate (IM) and poor (low or slow) metabolizers (PM). This is true also for thalidomide, whose metabolism is in part controlled by the enzyme CYP2C19.

The aims of our study are to test the hypothesis that thalidomide reduces the bleeding tendency of HHT patients and to verify to which extent CYP2C19 polymorphism modulates both response to treatment and side effects.

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of HHT, according to the diagnostic criteria world-wide recognized (Curacao criteria), with severe recurrent epistaxis (grade 2-3 according to the criteria proposed by Pagella et al., i.e. at least one episode of overt bleeding/week requiring at least one blood transfusion during the last three months), and refractory to mini-invasive surgical procedures, i.e. argon plasma coagulation. For these patients, there is no effective treatment option currently available
• Age > 18 years
• Ability of signing written informed consent
• Women of childbearing potential:
• declared intention not to start a pregnancy throughout the study and for four weeks following the date of the last dose of thalidomide (safe contraception, see Celgene guidelines, "Programma di Prevenzione della Gravidanza")
• negative serum pregnancy test obtained within 48 hours prior to the first dose of Thalidomide
• declared intention to undergo pregnancy tests periodically while on the study medication
• Males with female partner of childbearing potential:
• declared intention not to father throughout the study and for one week following the date of the last dose of thalidomide (safe contraception, see Celgene guidelines, "Programma di Prevenzione della Gravidanza")
• Estimated life expectancy must be greater than 10 months

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant or lactating women, or potentially fertile (both males and females) who have not agreed to avoid pregnancy during the trial period and for four weeks (females) or one week (males) following the date of the last dose of thalidomide
• Neurological diseases
• Psychiatric illness that would prevent granting of informed consent
• Active cardiovascular disease
• High risk for thromboembolic events (comorbidities, such as diabetes or uncontrolled infections, malignancy, immobility, prior history of thromboembolic events, use of erythropoietic agents or other agents such as hormone replacement therapy, central venous catheter, anti-cardiolipin, or anti-beta2 glycoprotein antibodies)
• Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption since thalidomide capsules contain lactose