Imatinib Intolerance Is Associated With Blastic Phase Development in Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Over the past years, the survival of patients with Philadelphia-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML Ph(+)) has increased as a result of therapy with tyrosin kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Intolerance to TKIs has been described in approximately 20% of patients receiving treatment. We studied the incidence of imatinib intolerance in patients with CML Ph(+) and their outcome in our CML reference site, as there is no information about the evolution of patients intolerant to TKIs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A group of 86 patients with CML Ph(+) receiving imatinib monotherapy who abandoned treatment were the basis for this study. We present the trends of their disease evolution. RESULTS: The median of age at diagnosis was 42 years. Within a year, 19 (22%) of 86 patients developed imatinib intolerance, all of them with grade III or IV disease that required imatinib dose reduction or discontinuation. Of these patients, 16 (84%) of 19 developed transformation to blastic phase. The cumulative incidences of blastic phase development were 47% in the nonintolerant group and 84% in the intolerant group. There was a relative risk for those with imatinib intolerance to develop blastic phase of 1.78 (95% confidence interval, 1.28 to 2.42) (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Most imatinib-intolerant patients develop blastic phase transformation, with a poor survival of 3 to 6 months; no effective rescue treatment is available. Future research should to determine whether the origin of this evolution is really due to the intolerance itself or whether it is due to a more aggressive form of the disease, perhaps related to genetic transformation.

Aspergilosis traqueobronquial invasiva en un paciente con púrpura trombocitopénica trombótica tratada con Anti-CD20 / Invasive tracheobronchial aspergillosis in a patient with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and immunosuppressed due to the use of steroids and anti-CD20

La aspergilosis invasiva es una complicación que se presenta con mayor frecuencia en pacientes con inmunosupresión. La aspergilosis traqueobronquial es una complicación muy rara con mínimas manifestaciones clínicas. Se informa de una paciente de 53 años con diagnóstico de púrpura trombocitopénica trombótica (PTT) con inmunosupresión por el uso de esteroides y anti CD-20, que presentó hemoptisis en 2 ocasiones; la segunda fue masiva y ocasionó la muerte. Previo al segundo evento de la hemoptisis se logró realizar broncoscopía, que mostró pseudomembranas y ulceración del epitelio bronquial. En el postmortem se logró documentar la presencia de Aspergillus tanto en la biopsia como en el cultivo. Es de gran importancia la sospecha y un reconocimiento temprano de esta patología en pacientes con inmunosupresión por su alta mortalidad.

Invasive aspergillosis is a complication most commonly developed in immunosuppressed patients. Tracheobronquial aspergillosis is an extremely rare complication with minimal clinical expression. We present the case of a 53-year-old female patient diagnosed with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and immunosuppressed due to the use of steroids and anti-CD20, who presented hemoptisis twice; being the second one massive leading to death. Before the second event of hemoptisis, bronchoscopy was performed, which showed pseudomembranes and ulceration of the bronchial epithelium. In the post-mortem examination, the presence of Aspergillus was evidenced by both biopsy and culture. The presumption and early diagnosis of this condition are paramount for immunosuppressed patients due to its high mortality.

Tamoxifen-associated vasculitis in a breast cancer patient.

BACKGROUND: Estrogen plays a critical role in breast cancer. Thereafter, endocrine therapy is a standard of care in patients with breast carcinoma, expressing ER or PR. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein we report the case of a 53-year old patient, who developed cholestasis and vasculitis during the treatment with tamoxifen. This toxicity was reversable after the removal of the drug. Thereafter she continued adjuvant treatment for breast carcinoma with anastrazole. Since tamoxifen has been widely indicated for patients with breast carcinoma, we did a literature review, looking for other cases with this type of toxicity. CONCLUSION: This case is the third with vasculitis informed in the literature, but the first one that additionally developed cholestasis and arthritis. Although it is rare, we discuss the indication of this drug in the actual era, where aromatase inhibitors offer a better security profile.