title: Electrolyte disturbances and acute kidney injury induced by imatinib therapy.
abstract: Imatinib mesylate is an anticancer agent that selectively inhibits protein kinases involved in the pathophysiology of cancer. It is now the first-line therapy for patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and is generally well tolerated. Here, we describe a case of a patient receiving imatinib for CML. The patient developed renal failure accompanied by severe hypophosphataemia, hypokalaemia and hypomagnesaemia. We discuss the pathophysiological characteristics of imatinib-induced renal injury, and we demonstrate that these electrolyte disturbances were caused by increased urinary excretion of phosphate and potassium. Early diagnosis and correction of imatinib-induced renal injury and electrolyte disorders can improve clinical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology , University of São Paulo School of Medicine , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Azevedo
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology , University of São Paulo School of Medicine , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Igor Denizarde Bacelar
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology , University of São Paulo School of Medicine , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonio Carlos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Seguro
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology , University of São Paulo School of Medicine , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Lúcia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Andrade
keywords: acute kidney injury; hypokalaemia; hypophosphataemia; imatinib