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Thalidomide embryopathy

Case contributed by Henrik Borgesen
Diagnosis probable

Presentation

Mother used thalidomide for nausea during pregnancy

Patient Data

Age: 40 years
Gender: Female
x-ray

Obvious skeletal malformations of all extremities such as absence of the forearm bones (phocomelia) and radial ray anomalies.

Case Discussion

Thalidomide used to be prescribed to treat pain, nausea, depression, etc., and was sold without information of its teratogenic side effects. It was also prescribed to pregnant women. In the following years children were born with severe malformations. This patient has a normal head/skull, thorax, spine, ankles and feet (not uploaded).

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