Patient flow chart
ADVERSE EVENTS
A total of 1346 patients were screened for eligibility, of which 654 patients were eligible and included in the study. Drop out during the study period was 122 patients, of which 40 patients did not complete 6 months of thalidomide treatment, 78 patients were lost to follow-up after 6 months and did not complete 30 months of treatment and four patients discontinued treatment due to adverse events. Thus, a total of 532 patients were included in the final analyses (Fig. Schematic flowchart of patient inclusion.