Three cases of severe ulcerative esophagitis induced by SUTENT®.

INTRODUCTION: The development of SUTENT® revolutionized the care of metastatic renal carcinoma and of non-operable GIST. The tolerance is quite good with mostly mild side effects grade 1 or 2. OBSERVATION: We report the case of three severe esophagitis stage 4 responsible for digestive bleeding. Two patients were taking anti-coagulant that could worsen the bleeding, but none were taking either antiplatelet or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory or corticosteroid that could favour erosion or ulceration of the digestive mucosa. It seems that SUTENT® is responsible for the digestive bleeding. DISCUSSION: Cases of esophagitis induced by SUTENT® have already been reported but are rare and of mild severity. Our three cases of esophagitis are severe with SUTENT® treatment as only risk factor and worsened by anti-coagulant treatment for two patients. It might be of interest preventively to treat these patients with inhibitors of proton pump.