title: Successful rechallenge with imatinib in a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia who previously experienced imatinib mesylate induced pneumonitis.
abstract: Imatinib mesylate is a targeted therapy that acts by inhibiting tyrosine kinase of the bcr-abl fusion oncoprotein, which is specific to chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and the c-transmembrane receptor, which is specific to gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Interstitial pneumonitis is a rare adverse event of imatinib therapy. It is clinically difficult to distinguish from infectious pneumonia, which can frequently occur due to the underlying disease. The standard treatment for imatinib-induced pneumonitis is to discontinue the medication and optionally administer corticosteroids. However, there are a few cases of successful retrial with imatinib. We describe a case of successful rechallenge of imatinib in a patient with imatinib-induced interstitial pneumonitis and CML without a recurrence of the underlying disease after 3 months of follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Go
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Boo Kyeong
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Hak
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Jung
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joo Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jick Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hah
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Whi
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Jung
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Wan
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kang
keywords: Imatinib; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive; Lung Diseases, Interstitial