NDT Plus Advance Access originally published online on December 4, 2008
NDT Plus 2009 2(1):27-29; doi:10.1093/ndtplus/sfn188
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Electrolyte disturbances and acute kidney injury induced by imatinib therapy
Department of Nephrology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
Correspondence: Correspondence and offprint requests to: Lúcia Andrade, Laboratório de Pesquisa Básica LIM-12, Faculdade de Medicina da USP, Av. Dr. Arnaldo 455, sala 3310, CEP 01246-903, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Tel: +55-011-3066-7281/3066-7292; Fax: +55-11-3088-2267; E-mail: luciacan{at}usp.br
| Abstract |
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Imatinib mesylate is an anticancer agent that selectively inhibits protein kinases involved in the pathophysiology of cancer. It is now the first-line therapy for patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and is generally well tolerated. Here, we describe a case of a patient receiving imatinib for CML. The patient developed renal failure accompanied by severe hypophosphataemia, hypokalaemia and hypomagnesaemia. We discuss the pathophysiological characteristics of imatinib-induced renal injury, and we demonstrate that these electrolyte disturbances were caused by increased urinary excretion of phosphate and potassium. Early diagnosis and correction of imatinib-induced renal injury and electrolyte disorders can improve clinical outcomes.
Key Words: acute kidney injury hypokalaemia hypophosphataemia imatinib
Received for publication October 24, 2008. Accepted for publication November 4, 2008.