Characteristics of early acute respiratory distress syndrome in newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia

How I manage acute respiratory failure in patients with hematological malignancies

ABSTRACT

Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is common in patients with hematological malignancies notably those with acute leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, or allogeneic stem cell transplantation. ARF is the leading reason for intensive care unit (ICU) admission, with a 35% case fatality rate. Failure to identify the ARF cause is associated with mortality. A prompt, well-designed diagnostic workup is crucial. The investigations are chosen according to pretest diagnostic probabilities, estimated by the DIRECT approach: D stands for delay, or time since diagnosis; I for pattern of immune deficiency; R and T for radiological evaluation; E refers to clinical experience, and C to the clinical picture. Thorough familiarity with rapid diagnostic tests helps to decrease the use of bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage, which can cause respiratory status deterioration in those patients with hypoxemia. A prompt etiological diagnosis shortens the time on unnecessary empirical treatments, decreasing iatrogenic harm and costs. High-quality collaboration between intensivists and hematologists and all crossdisciplinary health care workers is paramount. All oxygen delivery systems should be considered to minimize invasive mechanical ventilation. Treatment of the malignancy is started or continued in the ICU under the guidance of the hematologists. The goal is to use the ICU as a bridge to recovery, with the patient returning to the hematology ward in sufficiently good clinical condition to receive optimal anticancer treatment.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with acute myeloid leukemia admitted to intensive care unit with acute respiratory failure: a post-hoc analysis of a prospective multicenter study

BACKGROUND

Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is the leading cause of intensive care unit (ICU) admission in patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and data on prognostic factors affecting short-term outcome are needed.

METHODS

This is a post-hoc analysis of a multicenter, international prospective cohort study on immunocompromised patients with ARF admitted to ICU. We evaluated hospital mortality and associated risk factors in patients with AML and ARF; secondly, we aimed to define specific subgroups within our study population through a cluster analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, 201 of 1611 immunocompromised patients with ARF had AML and were included in the analysis. Hospital mortality was 46.8%. Variables independently associated with mortality were ECOG performance status ≥ 2 (OR = 2.79, p = 0.04), cough (OR = 2.94, p = 0.034), use of vasopressors (OR = 2.79, p = 0.044), leukemia-specific pulmonary involvement [namely leukostasis, pulmonary infiltration by blasts or acute lysis pneumopathy (OR = 4.76, p = 0.011)] and liver SOFA score (OR = 1.85, p = 0.014). Focal alveolar chest X-ray pattern was associated with survival (OR = 0.13, p = 0.001). We identified 3 clusters, that we named on the basis of the most frequently clinical, biological and radiological features found in each cluster: a "leukemic cluster", with high-risk AML patients with isolated, milder ARF; a "pulmonary cluster", consisting of symptomatic, highly oxygen-requiring, severe ARF with diffuse radiological findings in heavily immunocompromised patients; a clinical "inflammatory cluster", including patients with multi-organ failures in addition to ARF. When included in the multivariate analysis, cluster 2 and 3 were independently associated with hospital mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Among AML patients with ARF, factors associated with a worse outcome are related to patient's background (performance status, leukemic pulmonary involvement), symptoms, radiological findings, the need for vasopressors and the liver SOFA score. We identified three specific ARF syndromes in AML patients, which showed a prognostic significance and could guide clinicians to optimize management strategies.

Patient vital signs in relation to ICU admission in treatment of acute leukemia: a retrospective chart review

OBJECTIVES

The objective of the current study was to investigate the relationship between changes in vital signs and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Windsor Regional Hospital treats 15-20 new patients a year with acute leukemia. These patients are at increased risk of neutropenic fevers and admission to the ICU following induction chemotherapy.

METHODS

Retrospective review examined the correlation between acute leukemia patient vitals and ICU admission. The analysis included 37 patients: 7 ICU versus 30 controls. Changes were compared to baseline over 24 hours prior to ICU admission or 5 days after the initiation of induction chemotherapy in the following vital signs: heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), temperature (T), respiratory rate (RR), and fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO₂) required to maintain a stable oxygen saturation.

RESULTS

RR and FiO₂ demonstrated significant change over baseline leading up to ICU admission within the ICU group. T, HR and MAP did not demonstrate significant changes over time in either group. RR, FiO₂ and HR were significantly higher in the ICU group at time zero compared with the control group. RR was recorded least frequently in the 24 hours leading up to ICU admission.

DISCUSSION

Changes in RR and FiO₂ predicted clinical deterioration requiring ICU admission in acute leukemia patients. This is consistent with the predominant reason for ICU admission which was respiratory failure.

CONCLUSION

We present preliminary evidence to support enhanced monitoring of RR and FiO₂ in acute leukemia patients following induction chemotherapy with early intervention if identified.

Obesity and malnutrition in critically ill patients with acute myeloid leukemia: Prevalence and impact on mortality

OBJECTIVES

Obese patients have an increased risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which in turn predisposes to malnutrition. Obesity has been associated with improved survival in critically ill patients (obesity paradox), but this effect seems to disappear when adjusting for malnutrition. How obesity and malnutrition interplay to affect mortality in critically ill patients with AML has not been addressed and was the objective of this study.

METHODS

This was a retrospective chart review of adult patients with AML who were admitted to the medical intensive care unit and had a nutrition consultation between 2011 and 2018. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, severity scores, and laboratory parameters, as well as data on vital organ support, hospital mortality, and long-term survival were collected. Obesity was defined by a body mass index of ≥30 kg/m² and malnutrition per the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition criteria. Patients were compared based on nutrition and weight status, and hospital and long-term mortality were analyzed with logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier curves.

RESULTS

We included 145 patients (57% obese, 30% malnourished) in the study. As time from AML diagnosis elapsed, obesity was less frequent and malnutrition more prevalent, with 25% of obese patients also presenting with malnutrition. Hospital mortality was 40% and associated with malnutrition in nonobese patients (odds ratio: 5.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-21.8; P = 0.02) and sequential organ failure assessment severity score (odds ratio: 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-1.7; P < 0.0001). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the association between malnutrition, but not obesity, and hospital mortality. Obese malnourished patients had lower long-term survival, but this was not significant (P = 0.25).

CONCLUSIONS

Critically ill patients with AML have a high prevalence of malnutrition and obesity, which are sometimes associated. Malnutrition, but not obesity, was associated with hospital mortality.