Possible adverse cutaneous effects in patients taking imatinib mesylate (Gleevec)‎ in treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)‎ and gastro intestinal stromal tumors (GISTs)‎ at Hilla City

Abstract EN

Imatinib mesylate (gleevec) is a drug that used to treat certain cancers.

Sixty–two patients with CMLs and GLSTs received gleevec capsules as a chemotherapeutic treatment were studied..

These patients developed one of the following cutaneous diseases mainly as an adverse cutaneous reaction to gleevec therapy for malignant diseases or as an association with it.

Melasma (19.3 %), Eczema or dermatitis (14.5 %), Acne form rash (12.9 %), Folliculitis (9.7 %), Erythema nodosum (6.4 %), Erythema multiforme (4.8 %), Pruritus (4.8 %), Pityriasis rosea (3.2 %), Psoriasis (3.2 %), Chronic urticaria (3.2 %), Xerosis of skin (3.2 %), Vitiligo(1.6 %), Beau's lines of nails (1.6 %), Cheilitis (1.6 %), Common warts (1.6 %), Herpes zoster (1.6 %), Tinea incognito (1.6 %), Lichenification (1.6 %), Prurigo simplex (1.6 %) and Palmar keratoderma (1.6 %).

From this study, gleevec was reported for the first time to cause or trigger the following adverse effects : seborrheic dermatitis, acne–form rash, classical erythema multiforme, atypical pityriasis rosea (pityriasis circinate et marginate of widale) and acquired ichthyosis.

Also this work, was the first one showed the association between gleevec and induction of erythema nodosum in Iraq.

Gleevec was one of the considerable causes of melasma in Iraq.