Pleural effusion in a chronic myelogenous leukemia patient treated with dasatinib — a case report and disease management recommendations

Abstract

Pleural effusion is the most frequent non-hematological side effect of dasatinib therapy in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). A case report is presented of a patient suffering pleural effusion at grade 2 according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, where adverse event occurred after 8 months of second-line dasatinib therapy. A detailed fluid analysis excluded infection etiology. Dasatinib was temporary stopped and steroids together with a diuretic were introduced. Such treatment resulted in fluid resolution and the patient was then returned to the previous dose of dasatinib. This article discusses frequencies of these adverse events in CML patients treated with dasatinib as first- or second-line therapy along with the risk factors and treatment standards.