Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is occasionally accompanied by hematological malignancies such as myelodysplastic syndrome, acute myelogenous leukemia, or multiple myeloma. Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative disorder associated with Philadelphia chromosome and is usually treated with imatinib, which inhibits tyrosine kinases. Although there have been reports of CML cases accompanied by several rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Behcet's disease, systemic sclerosis, or undifferentiated spondylopathy, no studies have reported a case of CML with AS. We experienced a 50-year-old male patient who presented with buttock and low back pain and was diagnosed with both AS and CML. Magnetic resonance imaging showed sacroiliitis along with abnormal marrow infiltration, and a bone marrow biopsy confirmed the CML diagnosis. He was treated with imatinib, which was effective for the CML but not for the AS. This is the first case report of AS accompanied by CML.

Keywords: Ankylosing spondylitis, Chronic myelogenous leukemia, Imatinib