Imatinib mesylate as salvage therapy for refractory sclerotic chronic graft-versus-host disease.
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.
Magro
Leonardo
L
Service des Maladies du Sang, Centre Hospitalier Regional Universitaire de Lille, Lille Cedex, France.
Mohty
Mohamad
M
Catteau
Benoit
B
Coiteux
Valérie
V
Chevallier
Patrice
P
Terriou
Louis
L
Jouet
Jean-Pierre
JP
Yakoub-Agha
Ibrahim
I
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
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate