01686nas a2200265   4500000000100000008004100001260001600042653003700058653001100095653001500106653002900121653002100150653002400171653002000195653001600215100001200231700001500243700001300258700001300271245008400284300000900368490000700377520102200384022001401406       2008                            d  c2008 Jan 0710aChemistry Techniques, Analytical10aHumans10aHydrolysis10aImmunosuppressive Agents10aModels, Chemical10aMolecular Structure10aStereoisomerism10aThalidomide1 aBosch E1 aSánchez R1 aRojas SF1 aOjeda BC00aRecent advances in analytical determination of thalidomide and its metabolites.  a9-170 v463 a<p>Thalidomide, a racemate, is coming into clinical use as immuno-modulating and anti-inflammatory drug. Thalidomide was approved by the FDA in July 1998 for the treatment of erythema nodusum leprosum associated with leprosy. Recently, thalidomide is proving to be a promising drug in the treatment of a number of cancers and inflammatory diseases, such as multiple myeloma, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease), HIV and cancer associated cachexia. These effects may chiefly be exerted by S-thalidomide, but the enantiomers are inter-converted in vivo. Thalidomide is given orally, although parenteral administration would be desirable in some clinical situations. Thalidomide has been determined in formulations and, principally in biological fluids by a variety of methods such as high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection and liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The overview includes the most relevant analytical methodologies used in its determination.</p>  a0731-7085