Treatment and prevention of tumor lysis syndrome in children. Experience of Associazione Italiana Ematologia Oncologia Pediatrica.
Author(s): Pession A, Barbieri E
Affiliation(s): Oncoematologia Pediatrica, Dipartimento di Scienze Pediatriche Mediche e Chirurgiche, Universita di Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy. pession@med.unibo.it
Publication date & source: 2005, Contrib Nephrol., 147:80-92.
Publication type: Review
BACKGROUND: Hyperuricemia and tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) are complications that can arise from treatment of rapidly proliferating and drug-sensitive neoplasms. Clinical trials have shown rasburicase, a recombinant urate oxidase to be more effective than allopurinol for the prevention and treatment of malignancy-associated hyperuricemia. We investigated the safety and efficacy of rasburicase in the AIEOP centers' experience. METHODS: We reviewed the data of 26 children with malignancy at risk for TLS, submitted to treatment (group 1) or prophylaxis (group 2) of acute hyperuricemia with rasburicase (0.20 mg/kg intravenously daily) for a median period of 4 days. RESULTS: Rasburicase produced a significant decrease in uric acid concentrations in all the patients. The control of uric acid levels was obtained in both the groups within 24 h of the first dose with a response rate of 100% (group 1) and 93% (group 2). Normalization of creatinine and phosphorus levels was obtained in 5 and 4 days respectively. Tolerance was excellent without toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm that rasburicase is a safe, highly and rapidly effective agent in the treatment and prevention of malignancy-associated acute hyperuricemia and could be considered the treatment of choice to prevent tumor lysis syndrome in children at high risk for this metabolic complication.
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