The analysis of the risks for the development of tumour lysis syndrome in children.

BACKGROUND

Acute renal failure (ARF) during the course of cytostatic therapy is a serious complication. ARF can be isolated or became as component of tumour lysis syndrome (TLS). TLS comprises a number of metabolic abnormalities (hyperuricemia, hyperphosphatemia, hyperkalemia, azotemia and hypocalcemia) which are associated with lymphoproliferative malignancies following spontaneous or chemotherapy-induced cytolysis. There exist probably no clear prediction for the development of TLS that could enable early detection of manifestation of this severe condition.

SUBJECTIVE: Conventional management with aggressive hydration, alkalization of the urine, administration of allopurinol, and the slow introduction of chemotherapy is often unable to prevent metabolic instability and ARF. Recent studies define a subgroup of patients at higher risk of renal failure during induction chemotherapy. ARF was encountered during initial therapy of patients with a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) index greater than 3.3.

METHODS AND MATERIAL: A retrospective analysis of 10 children (3 girls, 7 boys, average age 9.7 years) with LDII index greater than 3.3 has been done. All children were treated for lymphoproliferative malignancy with conventional preventive measures.

RESULTS

Three children needed haemodialysis--2 boys had fully expressed TLS with ARF shortly after starting chemotherapy, in 1 boy the dialysis was indicated because of extreme hyperuricemia and high creatinine level presented before chemotherapy. We consider that LDH index is not specific criterium for prediction of TLS. In conclusion, our cases demonstrate the pathophysiologic spectrum of ARF in TLS between hyperuricemia and hyperphosphatemia.

CONCLUSION

The LDH index, urine output, and hyperphosphatemia could be used to identify those paediatric patients who would benefit from the prospective use some of extracorporeal elimination methods. Further investigation of this techniques in a larger number of patients is warranted. (Tab. 5, Ref. 12.)