title: Utility of the trough plasma imatinib level monitoring at two time points in patients with the chronic myeloid leukemia-chronic phase.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plasma imatinib levels vary widely in patients with the chronic myeloid leukemia-chronic phase, and studies have shown improved hematological, cytogenetic, and molecular responses in patients with the higher trough imatinib levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed 50 consecutive patients with the chronic myeloid leukemia-chronic phase and performed plasma imatinib levels at 1 month and 12 months and correlated them with complete hematological response at 3 months and molecular response at 12 months, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Trough plasma imatinib levels at 1 month correlated well with complete hematological response at 3 months (P = 0.007) and levels at 12 months correlated with molecular response at 12 months (P = 0.04). Compliance to imatinib also significantly correlated with imatinib levels at 1 month (P = 0.0008) and imatinib levels at 12 months (P = 0.0002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma imatinib levels may be of benefit in patients not achieving desired response at defined time intervals. The plasma level monitoring also helps in the assessment of drug compliance.
authors.forename: Sanjeev Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Suman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Vijayakumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Tulika
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seth
authors.forename: Pravas
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: Manoranjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahapatra
authors.forename: Sudha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sazawal
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Velpandian
authors.forename: Renu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saxena
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001549:Benzamides / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015466:Leukemia, Myeloid, Chronic-Phase / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate