title: Efficacy of imatinib mesylate in the treatment of idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome.
abstract: Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a myeloproliferative disorder characterized by persistent eosinophilia and organ involvement. Different treatments have been investigated in HES with modest success. It has been suggested that imatinib is active in HES. We treated 9 patients with HES with 100 mg imatinib daily. Doses for patients without response after 4 weeks were increased to 400 mg daily. Prior therapy had failed for 7 patients. Five patients responded: 4 achieved sustained complete remission lasting a median of 12+ weeks (range, 9+ to 36+ weeks), and 1 had a transient response. One patient died in complete remission. Responses occurred within 4 weeks of therapy; only 1 responder required an increase in dose to 400 mg daily. Three of 4 nonresponders failed to respond to an increase in dose. Toxicity was minimal. We conclude that imatinib therapy is effective for HES.
authors.affiliation: Department of Leukemia, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA. jcortes@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cortes
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ault
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koller
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrajoli
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wierda
authors.forename: Mary B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Rios
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Letvak
authors.forename: Elizabeth S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Kaled
authors.forename: Hagop
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kantarjian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001549:Benzamides; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl; D006801:Humans; D017681:Hypereosinophilic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012074:Remission Induction; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D001549:Benzamides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl