One Case of Imatinib Mesylate-Associated Diarrhea Successfully Treated with HANGESHASHINTO / 日本東洋医学雑誌

ABSTRACT

Imatinib mesylate, a specific inhibitor of BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase, has been mainly used for the management of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Common side effects of imatinib include hematologic toxicity, liver dysfunction, edema, fluid retention, gastrointestinal symptoms, and skin rashes among others. We experienced a patient with imatinib-associated diarrhea, who was successfully treated with hangeshashinto. The patient was 61 year-old female, who first consulted our clinic in June, 2005. Her complaint was frequent diarrhea(4 or 5 times a day) which occurred after the introduction of imatinib. Four weeks after hangeshashinto was administered, her bowel movement improved from watery diarrhea to loose stool twice a day. Eight weeks later, her symptom disappeared. It is generally accepted that imatinib should be administered continuously to obtain a complete clinical remission of CML. From the viewpoint of eastern and western medicine integration, it is significant that a Kampo medicine contributed to continuous therapy with imatinib.