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O'Shea M, Kuhn A, Creo AL, Kohorst M, Ferdjallah A. Profound Hypoglycemia and High Anion Gap Metabolic Acidosis in a Pediatric Leukemic Patient Receiving 6-Mercaptopurine. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 11:160. [PMID: 38397272 PMCID: PMC10886981 DOI: 10.3390/children11020160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
A 13-year-old male undergoing maintenance chemotherapy with methotrexate and 6-mercaptopurine (6MP), for very high-risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), presented with vomiting due to severe hypoglycemia with metabolic acidosis. While his laboratory values were concerning for a critically ill child, the patient was relatively well appearing. Hypoglycemia is a rare but serious side effect of 6MP with an unexpectedly variable presentation; therefore, a high index of suspicion is needed for its prompt detection and treatment. This patient also had severe metabolic acidosis, likely secondary to hypoglycemia, creating a serious clinical picture despite a well-appearing child. This example of incongruity between laboratory tests and clinical appearance adds nuance to the existing literature. Moreover, although 6MP-associated hypoglycemia is rare, it may be more prevalent than the literature suggests, as symptoms of hypoglycemia-nausea, vomiting, and somnolence-mirror common chemotherapy side effects. 6MP-induced hypoglycemia can be ameliorated with the addition of allopurinol to shunt metabolism in favor of the production of therapeutic metabolites over hepatotoxic metabolites. Additionally, a morning administration of 6MP and frequent snacks may also help to prevent hypoglycemia. Overall, this case adds to the literature of unusual reactions to 6MP including hypoglycemia in an older child without traditional risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly O'Shea
- Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Alexis Kuhn
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Ana L Creo
- Pediatric Endocrinology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Mira Kohorst
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Asmaa Ferdjallah
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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Rosenfeld E, Getz KD, Miller TP, Seif AE, Fisher BT, Burrows E, Ramos MJ, De León DD, Aplenc R, Morales KH, Guevara JP. Incidence and risk factors for hypoglycemia during maintenance chemotherapy in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2022; 69:e29467. [PMID: 34811879 PMCID: PMC9038623 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.29467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fasting hypoglycemia is a recognized occurrence among pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) during maintenance therapy. Existing publications describing this finding are limited to small studies and case reports. Our objective was to determine the incidence of hypoglycemia during maintenance chemotherapy and to investigate the association of age, as well as other potential risk factors, with this outcome in pediatric patients with ALL. PROCEDURE This retrospective cohort study included individuals 1 to 21 years of age with ALL treated with antimetabolite-containing maintenance chemotherapy at a large children's hospital between January 2011 and December 2014. The primary endpoint was time to first documented episode of hypoglycemia during maintenance therapy, defined as single measurement of plasma glucose <60 mg/dL. Cox regression was used to evaluate the association with age and identify other potential risk factors. RESULTS We identified 126 eligible patients, of whom 63% were documented as White, non-Hispanic, 28% as non-White, non-Hispanic, and 9% as Hispanic. Twenty-eight children (22%) had documented hypoglycemia during maintenance therapy. Younger age at the start of maintenance and hepatotoxicity documented during chemotherapy prior to maintenance initiation were associated with hypoglycemia (adjusted HR age = 0.88; 95% CI, 0.78-0.99; adjusted HR prior hepatotoxicity = 3.50; 95% CI, 1.47-8.36). CONCLUSIONS Nearly one quarter of children in our cohort had hypoglycemia documented during maintenance chemotherapy. Younger age at maintenance initiation and hepatotoxicity during chemotherapy prior to maintenance initiation emerged as risk factors. These findings highlight the importance of counseling about the risk of, and monitoring for, hypoglycemia, particularly in young children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Rosenfeld
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA,Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kelly D. Getz
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA,Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA,Division of Oncology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA,Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA,Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Tamara P. Miller
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA,Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Alix E. Seif
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA,Division of Oncology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA,Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Brian T. Fisher
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA,Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA,Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA,Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA,Division of Infectious Diseases, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Evanette Burrows
- Center for Biomedical Informatics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mark Jason Ramos
- Center for Biomedical Informatics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Diva D. De León
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA,Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Richard Aplenc
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA,Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA,Division of Oncology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA,Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA,Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Knashawn H. Morales
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA,Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - James P. Guevara
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA,Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA,Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA,Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA,Division of General Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Cohen G, Cooper S, Sison EA, Annesley C, Bhuiyan M, Brown P. Allopurinol use during pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia maintenance therapy safely corrects skewed 6-mercaptopurine metabolism, improving inadequate myelosuppression and reducing gastrointestinal toxicity. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2020; 67:e28360. [PMID: 32909665 PMCID: PMC8773437 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.28360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inadequate myelosuppression during maintenance therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is associated with an increased risk of relapse. One mechanism is skewed metabolism of 6-mercaptopurine (6MP), a major component of maintenance therapy, which results in preferential formation of the hepatotoxic metabolite (6-methyl mercaptopurine [6MMP]) with low levels of the antileukemic metabolite, 6-thioguanine nucleotides (6TGN). Allopurinol can modify 6MP metabolism to favor 6TGN production and reduce 6MMP. METHODS Patients in maintenance were considered for allopurinol treatment who had the following features: (a) Grade ≥3 hepatotoxicity; (b) Grade ≥2 nonhepatic gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity; or (c) persistently elevated absolute neutrophil count (ANC) despite >150% protocol dosing of oral chemotherapy. RESULTS From 2013 to 2017, 13 ALL patients received allopurinol: nine for hepatotoxicity, five for inadequate myelosuppression, and three for nonhepatic GI toxicity (four met multiple criteria). Allopurinol was well tolerated, without significant adverse events. Allopurinol resulted in a significant decrease in the average 6MMP/6TGN ratio (mean reduction 89.1, P = .0001), with a significant increase in 6TGN (mean 550.4, P = .0008) and a significant decrease in 6MMP (mean 13 755, P = .0013). Patients with hepatotoxicity had a significant decrease in transaminase elevation after starting allopurinol (alanine transaminase [ALT] mean decrease 22.1%, P = .02), and all with nonhepatic GI toxicity had improved symptoms. Those with inadequate myelosuppression had a significant increase in the time with ANC in goal (mean increase 26.4%, P = .0004). CONCLUSIONS Allopurinol during ALL maintenance chemotherapy is a safe, feasible, and effective intervention for those who have altered metabolism of 6MP causing toxicity or inadequate myelosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gordon Cohen
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Stacy Cooper
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Edward Allan Sison
- Section of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers, Houston, Texas
| | - Colleen Annesley
- Department of Pediatrics, Seattle Children’s Hospital, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Mariam Bhuiyan
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Patrick Brown
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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Conneely SE, Cooper SL, Rau RE. Use of Allopurinol to Mitigate 6-Mercaptopurine Associated Gastrointestinal Toxicity in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Front Oncol 2020; 10:1129. [PMID: 32766146 PMCID: PMC7378397 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
An essential component of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) therapy is the prolonged maintenance phase with daily 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) as the cornerstone. While 6-MP is generally well-tolerated, some patients suffer from significant side effects such as gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity, including hepatitis, hypoglycemia, nausea, and pancreatitis, which can substantially limit the tolerated dose of 6-MP. These toxicities are thought to result from skewed metabolism of 6-MP leading to an accumulation of the 6-methylmercaptopurine (6-MMP) metabolite. Here, we describe current knowledge behind the use of allopurinol to modify 6-MP metabolism and improve tolerance to therapy. This method has been successfully used in adults with inflammatory bowel disease refractory to purine therapy and has been modified for use in children with GI toxicities related to 6-MP in maintenance therapy for ALL. Use of allopurinol for 6-MP related toxicities should be reserved for patients in which an alternative cause of signs or symptoms has been excluded and for whom non-pharmacologic measures have failed. When allopurinol is used, simultaneous dose reduction of 6-MP is required to avoid severe myelosuppression and related side effects, though overall combination therapy appears to be well-tolerated and effective when instituted appropriately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon E Conneely
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Stacy L Cooper
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Rachel E Rau
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
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