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Home » Topics A–Z » Imatinib
Author: Anoma Ranaweera, Medical writer, Auckland, New Zealand. Chief Editor: Dr Amanda Oakley, Dermatologist, Hamilton, New Zealand, May 2015.
Imatinib mesylate (Gleevac®; USA and Glivec® Europe, New Zealand, from Novartis) is a small molecule inhibitor of ABL, KIT, and platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) tyrosine kinases. It is an FDA-approved oral treatment for chronic myeloid leukaemia, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative disease, chronic eosinophilic leukaemia and metastatic/malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumours. Imatinib has also been used for the treatment of some skin conditions.
Reported uses of imatinib in dermatology include:
Except for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, all other off-label dermatology indications are based on isolated case reports and small, uncontrolled series.
Imatinib has also been used in generalised morphoea.
Imatinib has been suggested as a suitable for melanoma carrying certain c-kit mutations. These include:
Imatinib has also been reported to have been used successfully for:
The most frequently reported adverse reactions (>30%) are:
Skin changes that often occur during treatment with imatinib include:
Less common reactions include:
Some skin changes may be related to underlying haematological conditions, their treatment and immunosuppression:
See smartphone apps to check your skin.
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