title: Imatinib mesylate as salvage therapy for refractory sclerotic chronic graft-versus-host disease.
abstract: Imatinib is a promising candidate for the treatment of fibrotic diseases. This retrospective study evaluated the use of imatinib for the treatment of refractory sclerotic chronic graft-versus-host disease in 14 patients with different hematologic malignancies. Imatinib was started at a median of 44 months after transplantation (range, 16-119 months after transplantation) and was administered for a median of 5.9 months from time of initiation (range, 2.1-74 months from time of initiation). With a median overall follow-up of 11.6 months from time of initiation (range, 4.1-74 months from time of initiation) of imatinib, 4 patients (29%) had to stop imatinib because of drug intolerance. All other adverse reactions were of mild-to-moderate grade and could be managed symptomatically. Overall, 7 patients responded to imatinib (50%; 95% confidence interval, 24%-76%) with 4 patients improving their Rodman score more than or equal to 90%. In addition, imatinib therapy allowed for a significant reduction of corticosteroid dosage. Despite its limited size, this cohort suggests some beneficial activity of imatinib in sclerotic chronic graft-versus-host disease, warranting further prospective investigations.
authors.affiliation: Service des Maladies du Sang, Centre Hospitalier Regional Universitaire de Lille, Lille Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Magro
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohty
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Catteau
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Coiteux
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chevallier
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Terriou
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Jouet
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yakoub-Agha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D001549:Benzamides; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods; D012598:Sclerosis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate