title: Imatinib use in pregnancy.
abstract: The outcome in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has dramatically improved over the last decade due to the widespread use of novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as imatinib. As overall survival has improved, the number of women with CML that wish to become pregnant has increased. As such, attending physicians are faced with a dilemma - continue life-prolonging medication to treat the cancer, or interrupt its use due to its potential teratogenicity. Herein we describe 2 CML patients that gave birth. Case 1 was managed via substitution of imatinib with interferon. The patient's child underwent genetic evaluation at age 3 years, achieved normal developmental milestones, and despite being shorter than his peers was proportional. In terms of morphology, the child had clinodactyly, short fifth fingers, and slightly downward slanting palpebral fissures, but otherwise appeared normal. In case 2 imatinib was continued throughout the pregnancy. This patient's child underwent postpartum evaluation by a geneticist and was observed to be morphologically normal, except for clinodactyly and low-set ears.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  None declared.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Haematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Cell Biology, National Health Laboratory Service, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jafta
keywords: Chronic myeloid leukemia; Imatinib; Pregnancy; Tyrosine kinase inhibitors