Dasatinib-induced diffuse alveolar hemorrhage

Abstract

The BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor dasatinib is a potent treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, it is associated with pulmonary toxicities. Commonly reported dasatinib related pulmonary toxicities include pleural effusion, lung parenchymal abnormalities, and pulmonary hypertension. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) during treatment with dasatinib is very rare. To the best of our knowledge there are only two cases reported. Here we report a 57-year-old Caucasian woman who developed acute hypoxic respiratory failure while on dasatinib for treatment of CML. She was diagnosed with DAH suspected to be secondary to dasatinib, after other common etiologies were ruled out. There was full recovery after stopping dasatinib and treatment with corticosteroids.

Keywords: Dasatinib, pulmonary toxicity, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, chronic myeloid leukemia