Taking even a single dose of thalidomide during early pregnancy may cause major birth defects. |
Kevin is one of the many people born with shortened limbs after his mother took thalidomide to treat morning sickness during pregnancy. |
Studies have shown that administration of thalidomide improves weight gain in both HIV-positive and HIV-negative tuberculosis patients. |
Causes and effects The structure of thalidomide is similar to that of the DNA purine bases adenine and guanine. |
Between 1957 and the early 1960s, thalidomide was used by several thousand pregnant women across the world to ease their morning sickness. |
Cases of phocomelia in the early 1960's in Germany and Australia led to the identification of thalidomide as a human teratogen. |