Dasatinib-Induced Colitis: Risk of misdiagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease. A case report and review of the literature

Dasatinib is a potent tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in disease states associated with BCR/ABL 1, approved in 2006 for chronic myeloid leukemia treatment. This agent has been shown to exhibit broad off-target kinase inhibition and immunomodulating properties. These effects may be responsible for common adverse reactions (> 15%) which include immunosuppression, cytopenias, pleural effusion and other fluid retention, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal side effects. Although gastrointestinal bleeding is a well-documented side effect, the presentation of colitis is an uncommon occurrence. In most cases, it is hemorrhagic colitis, nonspecific colitis, or CMV-related colitis. We report a 34-year-old male patient affected by CML in treatment with Dasatinib for approximately 1 year, who reported chronic diarrhea which progressed to suspected Dasatinib-induced colitis whose clinical, endoscopic, and histological findings overlapped those of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.