title: Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) in the treatment of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis: results of a 24-month open label, extension phase, single-centre trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to assess the long-term safety and tolerability of imatinib in diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this open-label, single-arm, extension-phase clinical trial, patients continued imatinib for 24 months following 12 months of initial treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen patients were enrolled. Forty of 92 adverse events (AE) and 0/6 serious (S) AEs were possibly related to medication. The MRSS decreased from a median of 21 to 16, (p=0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates long-term safety and tolerability of imatinib in a substantial proportion of patients with dcSSc. This is important in evaluating the relevance of this therapy in a chronic disease such as SSc.
authors.affiliation: Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, USA. gordonj@hss.edu.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Udeh
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doobay
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Magro
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wildman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davids
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Mersten
authors.forename: W-T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lyman
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Crow
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Spiera
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001549:Benzamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D045743:Scleroderma, Diffuse / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D010879:Piperazines; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D011241:Prednisone