paper on long term effects on imatinib bone health

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

The journal blood has an article in the last issue on the long term

effects of gleevec on bone formation. From what I read and was able to

understand (I am no md) gleevec has definitively an impact on our

bones, but it may not be the way we usually thought. It looks it may

actually increase bone density, they even suggest it could be used to

treat osteoporosis. They do encourage drs treating cml patients to

monitor bone health. Here an extract from the conclusion :

" In summary, we demonstrate for the first time that imatinib mesylate

significantly modulates bone turnover, as evidenced by an increase in

TBV and lowered levels of serum calcium and phosphate. Although we are

unable to predict the long-term skeletal consequences of this drug,

our study does suggest that patient management and care should include

appropriate monitoring of skeletal health. Furthermore, the observed

increase in TBV, a significant determinant of bone strength, raises

the intriguing possibility that imatinib and similar agents may have

uses in treating diseases that are characterized by generalized bone

loss, such as osteoporosis and osteomalacia. This possibility is

particularly attractive in light of the long-term safety data that

have accrued during imatinib's widespread use as a front-line therapy

for CML and GIST. "

The link is :

http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/cgi/content/full/111/5/2538

Marcos.

PS: No snow here, forecast for tomorrow is sun and temperature in the 70s

--

Marcos Perreau Guimaraes

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