Treatment with dasatinib for chronic myeloid leukemia following imatinib-induced hepatotoxicity

Treatment with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) imatinib for chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP) of disease may cause severe hepatotoxicity in rare cases. However, it remains unclear (1) how imatinib-induced hepatotoxicity should be treated; and (2) if and how TKI treatment can be resumed after recovery. We report a 32-year-old woman with CML-CP and histology confirmed imatinib-induced liver toxicity after 6 months of treatment. In this case, the early administration of corticosteroid therapy resulted in rapid and complete hepatic recovery, and treatment for CML-CP with the second generation TKI dasatinib was continued safely after recovery. Thus, dasatinib represents an option for maintaining therapeutic response in patients in whom continuation of imatinib is not possible due to its hepatic toxicity.