Cutaneous adverse reactions to imatinib mesylate and their management

Abstract

Imatinib mesylate,an inhibitor of the tyrosine kinase bcr-Abl,c-Kit and platelet-derived growth factor receptors,plays a favorable role in the treatment of tumors.In recent years,with the increasing report of drug-induced adverse cutaneous reactions,the safety and toxicity of imatinib mesylate have attracted more and more attention.Although imatinib mesylate may cause exfoliative dermatitis,pityriasis rosea,Stevens-Johnson syndrome,and so on,most of them can relieve after discontinuation of imatinib mesylate or use of glucocorticoids.Hence,imatinib mesylate can still serve as an effective choice for the treatment of chronic granulocytic leukemia,acute lymphoblastic leukemia and gastrointestinal interstitialoma. Key words: Imatinib mesylate; Skin manifestation; Drug eruption