Hypolipemiant besides antileukemic effect of imatinib mesylate

The use of imatinib mesylate (IM) (Gleevec, Novartis) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and other neoplastic disorders is in a dramatic increase, inducing long-standing survival. Therefore, the interest in the associated events with this treatment is more and more manifest. We describe a case of CML in which, at the usual antileukemic dose, IM induced a rapid and persistent normalization of the levels of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, low- and high-density lipoproteins and glucose. In the present case report we confirm other observations on the hypolipemiant and antidiabetic effects, concomitant with that antileukemic, of IM. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.