Congestive heart failure in a 77-year-old woman receiving adjuvant treatment with imatinib for a large gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumour

Abstract

We report on a 77-year-old patient complaining of abdominal pain who was diagnosed with a gastric mesenchymal tumour with a poor prognosis (high mitotic index, 25% Ki-67 proliferation index and c-kit positive). During surgery, there was instrument-related rupture of the tumour. Coadjuvant therapy with imatinib was initiated. Three weeks later, the patient developed symptoms of congestive heart failure and this led to the discontinuation of imatinib treatment; diuretic treatment was initiated, which led to an improvement in the symptoms. Echocardiography study showed a left ventricle ejection fraction of 55% with an alteration in the relaxation of the ventricle. In the follow-up, there has been no evidence of disease relapse or development of new symptoms.