title: Subdural hematomas during CML therapy with imatinib mesylate.
abstract: Seven of one hundred twenty-one patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) treated with imatinib mesylate developed subdural hematomas. All had advanced disease and were treated initially at a dose of 600 mg per day. Three patients had thrombocytopenia (platelet < 10 x 10(9)/l), one had leukocytosis (white blood cell count > 150 x 10(9)/l) and three had neither around the time of diagnosis of the subdural hematomas. Four patients required surgical evacuation. One patient, in blast crisis, died as a consequence of the subdural hematoma. Three patients survived but died of progressive CML. The remaining three patients having recommenced imatinib, are alive and well, and one has achieved a major cytogenetic response. Subdural hematomas must be considered even in mildly symptomatic patients receiving imatinib regardless of their peripheral blood counts. Patients who survive can be cautiously restarted on imatinib. Further studies are required to study the potential relationship between imatinib mesylate and subdural hematomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Canada.
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rifkind
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Al-Beirouti
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yee
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McCrae
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Messner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keating
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lipton
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001549:Benzamides; D001752:Blast Crisis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006408:Hematoma, Subdural / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012074:Remission Induction; D012307:Risk Factors; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate