Imatinib mesylate-induced lichenoid drug eruption

Abstract

Imatinib mesylate (imatinib) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor initially approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2001 for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Since then, the number of indicated uses for imatinib has substantially increased. It is increasingly important that dermatologists recognize adverse cutaneous manifestations of imatinib and are aware of their management and outcomes to avoid unnecessarily discontinuing a potentially lifesaving medication. Adverse cutaneous manifestations in response to imat-inib are not infrequent and can include dry skin, alopecia, facial edema, and photosensitivity rash. Other less common manifestations include exfoliative dermatitis, nail disorders, psoriasis, folliculitis, hypotrichosis, urticaria, petechiae, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, erythema multiforme, Sweet syndrome, and leukocytoclastic vasculitis. We report a case of imatinib-induced lichenoid drug eruption (LDE), a rare cutaneous manifestation, along with a review of the literature.