Table 1.

Description of included studies

	No. studies	No. patients (total 451)	Response rate CR + PR, %(95% CI)
Size of study (n patients)
5–25	5	82	50 (39–61)
26–46	4	136	48 (40–56)
47–120	3	233	44 (38–51)
Thalidomide starting dose
100	5	250	40 (35–47)
200	5	165	52 (45–60)
400	1	6	83 (44–97)
Thalidomide target dose
100	1	120	52 (43–60)
200	4	156	42 (35–50)
300/400	4	84	64 (54–74)
600/800	3	91	40 (30–50)
Dexamethasone cumulative dose in first month
<200 mg	6	259	45 (39–51)
200–320 mg	4	101	47 (37–56)
>400 mg	2	91	51 (41–61)

Only 11 studies stated a starting dose.