Imatinib-induced tumor lysis syndrome: Report of a case and review of the literature

Imatinib is a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor which acts on breakpoint cluster region-Abelson fusion gene (BCR-ABL) positive leukemia including all phases of chronic myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It may induce rapid apoptosis and subsequent tumor lysis syndrome. Only 3 cases of imatinib-induced tumor lysis syndrome have been reported. We herein described an additional patient with BCR-ABL (e1a2) positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia who developed tumor lysis syndrome after 10-day treatment with imatinib. Experience in the current case suggests that preventive measures for tumor lysis syndrome, including allopurinol and hydration, should be taken for patients with high leukemia burden who receive imatinib therapy, and parameters of tumor lysis should be monitored in the early phase of therapy.