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Efficacy of low-dose imatinib mesylate for cutaneous involvement in systemic sclerosis: A preliminary report of three cases
Modern Rheumatology, 06/07/2011
Clinical Article
Tamaki Z et al. – These clinical data indicate the tolerability and efficacy of low-dose imatinib in systemic sclerosi (SSc), especially against cutaneous vascular involvement, including Raynaud’s phenomenon and nailfold bleeding.
Methods- Pilot study
- Effect of low-dose imatinib mesylate (100 mg/day) on cutaneous involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) analyzed
- 3 patients with SSc treated with 100 mg/day of imatinib mesylate for 6 months because of pulmonary arterial hypertension refractory to conventional treatments, including beraprost, bosentan, sildenafil, and epoprostenol
- Changes in cutaneous involvement evaluated at 1, 3, and 6 months
- During treatment, total skin score gradually improved in all of patients
- Contracture of phalanges attenuated in 2 patients, 1 of whom also experienced partial restoration of large-joint mobility
- Nailfold bleeding, initially seen in 2 patients, gradually attenuated and had completely disappeared at 6 months
- In all patients, Raynaud’s phenomenon attenuated at around 3 months and completely disappeared at 6 months
- Although transient renal dysfunction observed in 1 patient
- No common AEs of imatinib, such as edema, nausea, rash, and musculoskeletal pain
