Development of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus while receiving a therapeutic dose of imatinib mesylate for chronic myelogenous leukemia.

BACKGROUND

Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) is a selective Bcr-Abl protein tyrosine-kinase inhibitor, and it also inhibits the receptor tyrosine kinases for stem cell factor (c-kit) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGFR). It is being investigated for use in the treatment of sclerosing dermatoses.

OBSERVATION: A 44-year-old woman with a history of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) was referred for the evaluation of a pruritic eruption that developed over 6 months. Examination revealed atrophic plaques confined to the groin, vulva, axillae, inframammary region, trunk, antecubital and popliteal fossae, and posterior thighs bilaterally. A biopsy showed lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (LSetA). At the time of presentation, the patient was receiving imatinib mesylate 400 mg daily for CML.

CONCLUSION

This is the first report of development of LSetA, a sclerosing dermatosis, while receiving a therapeutic dose of imatinib mesylate, a drug thought to have anti-sclerotic properties.