Late onset imatinib-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome

Abstract

Imatinib, a BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is known to cause mild to moderate cutaneous reactions in up to approximately 20% of patients. It rarely causes severe reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, which can be life threatening. Typically, these rashes occur within two months of initiating therapy. We report a case of Stevens-Johnson syndrome induced by imatinib after several years of therapy, but later successfully was treated with nilotinib therapy.