Imatinib and Hyperlipidemia

To the Editor: We report on a series of nine patients with hyperlipidemia and either chronic myeloid leukemia or the hypereosinophilic syndrome, in eight of whom plasma lipid levels normalized within one month after imatinib therapy (at a dose of 400 mg daily) was started. All nine patients had hypercholesterolemia (mean plasma total cholesterol level, 254 mg per deciliter; range, 223 to 293); four of them also had hypertriglyceridemia (mean plasma triglyceride level, 264 mg per deciliter; range, 230 to 368). Patients who had concomitant diabetes mellitus, were currently consuming alcohol, or were using oral contraception were excluded. Diet, weight, . . .