Severe pleural effusion associated with nilotinib for chronic myeloid leukaemia: cross-intolerance with tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Abstract

Nilotinib is used as standard treatment in managing chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). A 23-year-old man with CML and on nilotinib was admitted to the intensive care unit due to respiratory failure. Three years prior, he developed pleural effusion from dasatinib therapy thus, his CML regimen was changed to nilotinib. Although the pleural effusion had once improved, the chest imaging revealed left-dominant bilateral pleural effusion. Endotracheal intubation and left thoracic drainage were performed. Nilotinib treatment was discontinued, and approximately 60 hours later, nilotinib concentrations of 927 and 2092 ng/mL were determined in his blood and pleural effusion, respectively. Severe pleural effusion may be induced in patients administering nilotinib, and nilotinib concentrations in blood and pleural effusion can be elevated in patients with nilotinib-related pleural effusion. Cross-occurrence of pleural effusions needs to be monitored precisely, especially in patients who are switched to other tyrosine kinase inhibitors after dasatinib treatment.