Thalidomide Reduces Arteriovenous Malformation Related Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Inclusion Criteria

• •Patients must be 18 years of age or older
• •Patient must have had greater than 2 episodes of overt bleeding over last 2 years requiring \> 4 units of PRBC for bleeding 20 AVM. AVM's should have been identified at optical/capsule endoscopy or angiography.
• •Patients must have adequate hematologic, renal and liver function (i.e. Platelets ≥ 100,000/mm3, Creatinine ≤ 1.7mg/dl, Total Bilirubin ≤ 2.5mg/dl, Transaminases ≤ 4 times above the upper limits of the institutional norm)
• •Patients must be able to provide written informed consent. Patients with the potential for pregnancy or impregnating their partner must agree to follow acceptable birth control methods (described in detail under thalidomide drug information section) to avoid conception. Women of child-bearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test prior to treatment on this protocol. Men taking thalidomide must agree to use latex condoms every time they have sex with women since it has been shown that thalidomide is found in semen. All patients must agree to participate in the S.T.E.P.S.® program (System for Thalidomide Education and Prescribing Safety). All patients must be educated under the requirements of the S.T.E.P.S.® program. Patients are required to complete a S.T.E.P.S.® survey and sign and additional consent form indicating that they understand all information provided to them as part of the S.T.E.P.S.® educational counseling.
• •Estimated life expectancy must be greater than 2 months.