Response of idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome to treatment with imatinib mesylate

Leuk Res. 2002 Sep;26(9):881-4. doi: 10.1016/s0145-2126(02)00046-2.

Abstract

Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a rare hematologic disorder characterized by persistent eosinophilia with organ involvement. Patients with HES have a poor prognosis, but the disease course can be heterogeneous. Treatment of HES has included corticosteroids, chemotherapeutic agents such as cyclophosphamide, vincristine, hydroxyrea, and most recently interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) which has shown long-term beneficial effects. We herein report on a patient with HES who had disease resistant to steroids, and chemotherapy with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine and cytarabine, but who had a significant response after only 8 days of treatment with imatinib mesylate 100mg daily. The possible mechanism of response is discussed. This observation may lead to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of HES, and may provide a new form of effective therapy for the disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Alkylating Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antimetabolites / therapeutic use
  • Benzamides
  • Bone and Bones / blood supply
  • Busulfan / therapeutic use
  • Cladribine / therapeutic use
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Consciousness Disorders / etiology
  • Cytarabine / therapeutic use
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Hydroxyurea / therapeutic use
  • Hypereosinophilic Syndrome / complications
  • Hypereosinophilic Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Hypereosinophilic Syndrome / surgery
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Indomethacin / therapeutic use
  • Infarction / etiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitral Valve Stenosis / etiology
  • Pancytopenia / etiology
  • Piperazines / therapeutic use*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Pyrimidines / therapeutic use*
  • Splenectomy

Substances

  • Alkylating Agents
  • Antimetabolites
  • Benzamides
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Piperazines
  • Pyrimidines
  • Cytarabine
  • Cladribine
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Busulfan
  • Hydroxyurea
  • Indomethacin