Korean J Hematol.  2010 Mar;45(1):73-75. 10.5045/kjh.2010.45.1.73.

A case of subdural hematoma in patient with chronic myeloid leukemia treated with high-dose imatinib mesylate

• Kim MS
• Lee DH
• Lee YR
• Kim DK
• Bae SH
• Hwang JY
• Kwon KA
• Lee S
• Han JY
• Kim KU
• Kim SH

• KMID: 2252094
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5045/kjh.2010.45.1.73

Abstract

Imatinib mesylate (IM) is used to treat a wide range of diseases, including Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), on account of its high tolerability and low incidence of minor adverse events. Hemorrhage is thought to be a rare complication of IM. Recently, IM has been associated with reduced alpha2-plasmin inhibitor and platelet dysfunction. We report here the case of a 33-year-old female patient with CML who experienced subdural hematoma after an incremental increase in IM dosage due to a loss of complete molecular response. This case indicates that physicians should be alert to this atypical cause of headache in patients taking high-dose IM.

Keyword

Chronic myeloid leukemia; Imatinib mesylate; Subdural hematoma

MeSH Terms

Adult
Benzamides
Blood Platelets
Female
Headache
Hematoma, Subdural
Hemorrhage
Humans
Incidence
Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive
Mesylates
Philadelphia
Piperazines
Pyrimidines
Imatinib Mesylate
Benzamides
Mesylates
Piperazines
Pyrimidines

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the subdural hematoma. (A) Non-contrast axial CT scan shows a crescent-shaped, chronic CSF-isodense left subdural hematoma (arrow). There is mild effacement of the left lateral ventricle. (B) Axial FLAIR MR shows a chronic subdural hematoma with hyperintense signal (arrow).

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