Thalidomide epidemics – 50 years after
Authors:
Antonín Šípek jr. 1; Antonín Šípek 2,3,4; Eva Maňáková 5
Authors‘ workplace:
Ústav biologie a lékařské genetiky 1. lékařská fakulta Univerzity Karlovy a Všeobecná fakultní nemocnice, Praha
1; Ústav obecné biologie a genetiky, 3. lékařská fakulta Univerzity Karlovy, Praha
2; Sanatoriom Pronatal s. r. o., Praha
3; Oddělení lékařské genetiky, Thomayerova nemocnice s poliklinikou, Praha
4; Česká teratologická informační služba, Ústav histologie a embryologie, 3. lékařská fakulta Univerzity Karlovy, Praha
5
Published in:
Čas. Lék. čes. 2012; 151: 579-581
Category:
Special Articles
Overview
Thalidomide tragedy and the subsequent epidemics of congenital anomalies is one of the most tragic but also enlightening chapters in the history of modern medicine. Many thousands of children were born with various anomalies – especially with limb deformities – because of the mass usage of thalidomide by pregnant women. The numbers of the spontaneous abortions and fetal deaths will remain unknown forever. In year 2012 we have a sad 50th anniversary of final recognition of thalidomide teratogenous potential. The causes of this tragedy and subsequent actions are summarized in our text.
Key words:
thalidomide, teratogenesis, congenital anomalies.
Sources
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Addictology Allergology and clinical immunology Angiology Audiology Clinical biochemistry Dermatology & STDs Paediatric gastroenterology Paediatric surgery Paediatric cardiology Paediatric neurology Paediatric ENT Paediatric psychiatry Paediatric rheumatology Diabetology Pharmacy Vascular surgery Pain managementArticle was published in
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