Tyrosine-Kinase Inhibitors

Tyrosine kinases inhibitors (TKIs) are small molecules that have been developed as targeted therapies for various medical conditions. They act specifically on tyrosine kinases, a family of membrane-bound or intracellular molecules that regulate a variety of important cellular functions. TKIs have emerged as treatment for hematologic malignancies and autoimmune diseases. Each class of TKI has unique features and often acts on a specific receptor, minimizing the risk of adverse effects and infectious sequelae. Despite this targeted therapy, however, infectious complications have emerged as a major obstacle for many of these agents. Depending on the specific class of TKI, there is often an increased risk of neutropenia, or a higher risk for pneumonia and other respiratory infections. Reactivation of latent infections and opportunistic infections may also occur. Screening for latent infections prior to initiation of therapy and prophylaxis should be considered depending on the TKI agents used.