Thalidomide induced impotence in male hematology patients: a common but ignored complication?

Haematologica. 2007 Oct;92(10):1440. doi: 10.3324/haematol.11095.

Abstract

Thalidomide has become an important agent in the treatment of myeloma. However, thalidomide induced erectile dysfunction is a serious complication which has received very little attention. In our hematology department, 6 out of 11 male patients developed erectile dysfunction (grade 3 in 5/6) within 4 weeks of starting thalidomide. Our results suggest that thalidomide induced impotence is a common complication in male hematology patients.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Erectile Dysfunction / chemically induced*
  • Erectile Dysfunction / complications
  • Erectile Dysfunction / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Myeloma / complications
  • Multiple Myeloma / drug therapy*
  • Thalidomide / adverse effects*
  • Thalidomide / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Thalidomide