All-trans retinoic Acid differentiation syndrome chorioretinopathy: a case of multifocal serous neurosensory detachments in a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia treated with all-trans retinoic Acid

Differentiation Syndrome in Acute Leukemia: APL and Beyond

Differentiation syndrome (DS) is a frequent and potentially life-threatening clinical syndrome first recognized with the advent of targeted therapeutics for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). DS was subsequently observed more broadly with targeted therapeutics for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). DS is typically characterized by fever, dyspnea, hypotension, weight gain, pleural or pericardial effusions, and acute renal failure. The incidence in patients with APL ranges from 2 to 37%, with the wide variation likely attributed to different diagnostic criteria, use of prophylactic treatment, and different treatment regimens. Treatment with corticosteroids +/- cytoreductive therapy should commence as soon as DS is suspected to reduce DS-related morbidity and mortality. The targeted anti-leukemic therapy should be discontinued in patients with severe DS. Here, we discuss the pathogenesis of DS, clinical presentations, diagnostic criteria, management strategies, and implementation of prospective tracking on clinical trials.

Incidence of Differentiation Syndrome Associated with Treatment Regimens in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Differentiation syndrome (DS) is a potentially fatal adverse drug reaction caused by the so-called differentiating agents such as all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO), used for remission induction in the treatment of the M3 subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). However, recent DS reports in trials of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-inhibitor drugs in patients with IDH-mutated AML have raised concerns. Given the limited knowledge of the incidence of DS with differentiating agents, we conducted a systematic literature review of clinical trials with reports of DS to provide a comprehensive overview of the medications associated with DS. In particular, we focused on the incidence of DS reported among the IDH-inhibitors, compared to existing ATRA and ATO therapies. We identified 44 published articles, encompassing 39 clinical trials, including 6949 patients. Overall, the cumulative incidence of DS across all treatment regimens was 17.7%. Incidence of DS was notably lower in trials with IDH-inhibitors (10.4%) compared to other regimens, including ATRA and/or ATO (15.4-20.6%). Compared to other therapies, the median time to onset was four times longer with IDH-inhibitors (48 vs. 11 days). Treating oncologists should be mindful of this potentially fatal adverse drug reaction, as we expect the current trials represent an underestimation of the actual incidence.

Two cases of differentiation syndrome with ocular manifestations in patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia treated with all-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide

Purpose

To describe two cases of differentiation syndrome presenting with ocular manifestations including bilateral chorioretinopathy in patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia treated with all-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide differentiation therapy.

Observations

This observational case series identifies two patients at a single tertiary institution diagnosed with differentiation syndrome with associated ophthalmic involvement. Both patients reported bilateral reduction in visual acuity at days fourteen and ten respectively following initiation of differentiation therapy in addition to developing other systemic manifestations of differentiation syndrome. Both patients received the same chemotherapeutic regimen including both all-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide as well as ten days of routine differentiation syndrome prophylaxis with oral prednisolone. Case 1 presented with bilateral pale yellow sub-retinal lesions concentrated at the posterior poles with ocular coherence tomography (OCT) evidence of bilateral multifocal areas of focal RPE elevation and adhesion to the thickened outer retina with interspersed sub-retinal fluid. Fluorescein angiography revealed areas of early hyperflouresence corresponding to the yellow chorioretinal lesions with late diffuse leakage of fluid into the subretinal space. Case 2 presented with a similar characteristic retinal findings on fundoscopy and optical coherence tomography. Both patients experienced rapid improvement in the visual symptoms and marked resolution of the sub-retinal fluid within seven to fourteen days of onset with excellent long-term visual outcome. Both patients achieved molecular remission after induction and received standard consolidation and maintenance therapy without visual disturbance.

Conclusion and importance

Ocular manifestations of differentiation syndrome have been only recently recognised. We present a case series of two patients with differentiation syndrome with ocular involvement. Common to both presentations was the presence of bilateral reduction in visual acuity with multifocal serous retinal detachment secondary to chorioretinopathy. The visual outcome from both presentations was excellent with rapid normalisation of visual acuity and resolution of the sub-retinal fluid with only the first case having their differentiation therapy temporarily withheld during the acute phase of illness.