title: Safety of imatinib in chronic myeloid leukemia in blastic crisis presenting as cholestatic jaundice.
abstract: Acute leukemia presenting as cholestatic jaundice is rare. It can occur due to granulocytic sarcoma compressing the bile ducts in case of acute myeloid leukemia. Rarely, diffuse infiltration of the liver sinusoids by the leukemic blasts can present as cholestatic jaundice. We report a case of chronic myeloid leukemia in lymphoid blast cell crisis presenting with severe cholestatic jaundice due to diffuse infiltration of the liver sinusoids with lymphoblasts. This patient tolerated imatinib well and, coinciding with the hematological response, there was marked reduction in the cholestasis due to blast clearance from the hepatic sinusoids. He was subsequently treated with combination chemotherapy and achieved morphological and cytogenetic remission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Kuwait Cancer Control Center, Shuwaikh, Kuwait. kannan_hemat@yahoo.com
authors.forename: S Kannan
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ramamoorthy
authors.forename: Ramesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pandita
authors.forename: Ajay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Ramaswamy
authors.forename: Soad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al Bahar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001549:Benzamides; D001752:Blast Crisis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D041781:Jaundice, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects