Imatinib-induced sweet syndrome in a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Imatinib mesylate has become one of the main chemotherapeutic agents currently used to treat patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Although cutaneous reactions to this drug have been documented before, this is the first time that Sweet syndrome has been reported with its use.

OBSERVATIONS: We report a case of Sweet syndrome secondary to the administration of imatinib to treat CML. On 2 separate occasions, a 53-year-old African American woman with CML developed neutrophilic dermatosis consistent with Sweet syndrome after chemotherapy with imatinib.

CONCLUSION: Greater awareness of the adverse effects of imatinib and the characterization of its cutaneous adverse effects will lead to improved surveillance for and treatment of those adverse effects.