Thalidomide in the treatment of endometriosis pain: A scoping review of experimental studies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21527/2176-7114.2024.48.14845Keywords:
Pain, Pain management, EndometriosisAbstract
This study aimed to investigate the applicability of thalidomide in the treatment of pain induced by endometriosis in animals. A scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute method and adhering to PRISMA – ScR standards. Searches were performed in six electronic databases using specific descriptors and keywords, employing a Boolean search strategy aimed at retrieving studies on endometriosis, pain, pain management, and thalidomide. The study included data from studies conducted in Iran (n = 1, 50%) and Turkey (n = 1, 50%). All articles (n = 2; 100%) were published in English within the past decade. In studies comparing thalidomide to placebo, a significant reduction in inflammatory factors was observed, which correlated directly with improved clinical outcomes in pain management. This reduction provided additional benefits, including reduced levels of growth factors and regulation of the metalloproteinase (MPP) cycle. The review of studies revealed the anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory properties of thalidomide, suggesting its potential as a viable option for pain management. However, the existing literature on thalidomide for this purpose remains limited.
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