Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) in the treatment of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis: results of a 24-month open label, extension phase, single-centre trial.

J Gordon, U Udeh, K Doobay, C Magro, H Wildman, M Davids, J N Mersten, W-T Huang, S Lyman, M K Crow, R F Spiera

Journal: Clinical and experimental rheumatology 2015;32(6 Suppl 86):S-189-93

PMID: 25152211

Full Text on Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology View on PubMed

Abstract

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to assess the long-term safety and tolerability of imatinib in diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc).

METHODS

In this open-label, single-arm, extension-phase clinical trial, patients continued imatinib for 24 months following 12 months of initial treatment.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients were enrolled. Forty of 92 adverse events (AE) and 0/6 serious (S) AEs were possibly related to medication. The MRSS decreased from a median of 21 to 16, (p=0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates long-term safety and tolerability of imatinib in a substantial proportion of patients with dcSSc. This is important in evaluating the relevance of this therapy in a chronic disease such as SSc.

Address: Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, USA. [email protected].