Tumor lysis syndrome resident survival guide

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Twinkle Singh, M.B.B.S. [2]

Definition

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a group of metabolic abnormalities resulting from rapid lysis of malignant cells and massive release of cell breakdown products into blood. It is a life threatening condition and an oncologic emergency. Metabolic complications include hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, hyperuricemia, hypocalcemia and hyperuricosuria.

Causes

Life Threatening Causes

Tumor lysis syndrome resulting from any cause is a life threatening condition and needs immediate management.

Common Causes

Commonly tumor lysis syndrome is precipitated by chemotherapy in patients with hematologic malignancies.

• Burkitt's lymphoma
• Acute myeloid leukemia
• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• Chronic myeloid leukemia
• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Multiple myeloma

Classification

Cairo and Bishop classified and graded TLS as laboratory tumor lysis syndrome (LTLS) and clinical tumor lysis syndrome (CTLS).

Cairo and Bishop Definition for Laboratory Tumor Lysis Syndrome (LTLS)

LTLS is considered to be present if 2 or more of the following serum abnormalities are present within 3 days or 7 days after cytotoxic therapy.

Element	Value	Change from baseline
Uric acid	≥476 μmol/L or 8 mg/dL	25 % increase
Potassium	≥6 mmol/L or 6mg/L	25 % increase
Phosphorus	≥2.1 mmol/L for children ≥1.45 mmol/L for adults	25 % increase
Calcium	≤1.75 mmol/L	25% decrease

Cairo and Bishop Definition and Grading for Clinical Tumor Lysis Syndrome (CTLS)

Clinical tumor lysis syndrome is said to be present if LTLS is present plus 1 or more of the following clinical correlations:

Complication	Grade
	0	1	2	3	4	5
Creatinine	≤1.5×ULN	1.5×ULN	>1.5-3.0×ULN	>3-6×ULN	>6×ULN	Death
Cardiac arrhythmia	None	Intervention not indicated	Medical intervention indicated, but not urgently	Controlled with a device or symptomatically and incompletely controlled medically	Life threatening	Death
Seizure	None	-	One well controlled generalized seizure OR infrequent multiple focal motor seizures not affecting activities of daily living	poorly controlled seizure disorder, seizure with altered consciousness	Status epilepticus, intractable epilepsy	Death

ULN: Upper limit of normal

Prevention of TLS

Prevention of tumor lysis syndrome is of prime importance because once it is established, it is very difficult to treat and life threatening. Shown below is an algorithm summarizing the approach to [[tumor lysis syndrome]].

Identify patients at risk of TLS

Low Risk Disease (LRD): ❑ Solid tumors ❑ Multiple myeloma ❑ Indolent Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma ❑Hodgkin's lymphoma ❑ AML with WBC count ≤25,000 cells/μL and LDH < 2× ULN ❑ CLL with WBC count < 50,000 cells/μL, treated only with alkylating agents ❑ CML

Intermediate Risk Disease (IRD): ❑ Bulky or advanced stage solid tumors ❑ Plasma cell leukemia ❑ Stage III/IV Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with LDH > 2xULN ❑AML with WBC count ≤25,000 cells/μL and LDH > 2× ULN OR AML with WBC count 25,000-100,000 cells/μL ❑ CLL treated with fludarabine or rituximab or CML with WBC count > 50,000 cells/μL ❑ ALL with WBC < 100,000 cells/μL and LDH > 2xULN ❑ Burkitt's lymphoma stage I/II with LDH < 2x ULN ❑Lymphoblastic lymphoma stage I/II with LDH < 2x ULN

High Risk Disease (HRD): ❑ AML with WBC count > 100,000 cells/μL ❑ ALL with WBC >100,000 cells/μL AND/OR LDH > 2xULN ❑Burkitt's lymphoma stage III/IV with LDH ≥ 2x ULN ❑ Lymphoblastic lymphoma stage III/IV with LDH ≥ 2x ULN ❑ IRD with renal dysfunction ❑ IRD with uric acid, potassium or phosphate above ULN

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References

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