Plasma uric acid response to rasburicase: early marker for acute kidney injury in tumor lysis syndrome?

Acute kidney injury in children with haematological malignancy: a territory-wide study

BACKGROUND

In onco-nephrology, data on acute kidney injury (AKI) among children with haematological malignancies are scarce.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of all patients in Hong Kong diagnosed with haematological malignancies from 2019 to 2021 before 18 years of age, was conducted to investigate the epidemiology, risk factors and clinical outcomes of AKI during the first year of treatment. AKI was defined according to the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria.

RESULTS

We included 130 children with haematological malignancy at median age of 9.4 years (IQR, 3.9-14.1). Of these patients, 55.4% were acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 26.9% were lymphoma and 17.7% were acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Thirty-five patients (26.9%) developed 41 AKI episodes during the first year of diagnosis, corresponding to 32 episodes per 100-patient-year. A total of 56.1% and 29.2% of the AKI episodes occurred during induction and consolidation chemotherapy respectively. Septic shock (n = 12, 29.2%) was the leading cause of AKI; 21 episodes (51.2%) were stage 3 AKI; 12 episodes (29.3%) were stage 2 AKI; and 6 patients required continuous kidney replacement therapies. Tumor lysis syndrome and impaired baseline kidney function were significantly associated with AKI on multivariate analysis (P = 0.01). History of AKI was associated with chemotherapy postponement (37.1% vs. 16.8%, P = 0.01), worse 12-month patient survival (77.1% vs. 94.7%, log rank P = 0.002) and lower disease remission rate at 12-month (68.6% vs. 88.4%, P = 0.007), compared to patients without AKI.

CONCLUSION

AKI is a common complication during treatment of haematological malignancies which is associated with worse treatment outcomes. A regular and dedicated surveillance program for at-risk patients should be studied in children with haematological malignancies for prevention and early detection of AKI. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Massive hyperphosphatemia in clinical tumor lysis syndrome during prophylactic rasburicase use: risk factors and treatment options

We report the case of a 76-year-old female with diffuse large B cell lymphoma who developed tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) and subsequent acute kidney injury (AKI) due to massive hyperphosphatemia during the prophylactic use of rasburicase. Our case showed no hyperphosphatemia before chemotherapy but had elevated uric acid and creatinine levels and unilateral hydronephrosis due to paraaortic lymphadenopathy. TLS risk was classified as high risk because of bulky mass, LDH elevation, and renal disturbance. With rasburicase use, uric acid was completely controlled but massive hyperphosphatemia and, subsequently, AKI developed. Immediate kidney replacement therapy led to improvement of hyperphosphatemia and AKI. In the rasburicase era, hyperphosphatemia has been a key target for preventing and treating TLS. Renal replacement therapy is the only effective option for lowering hyperphosphatemia and treating AKI.

Tumor lysis syndrome, acute kidney injury and disease-free survival in critically ill patients requiring urgent chemotherapy

Background

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a life-threatening complication during the treatment of malignant neoplasia. We sought to describe characteristics and predictors of acute kidney injury (AKI), remission and mortality in high-risk TLS patients. In this retrospective monocentric study, we included all patients with the diagnosis of biological and/or clinical TLS from 2012 to 2018. The primary outcome was the prevalence of AKI during the acute phase of TLS. Secondary outcomes were overall mortality and remission of the underlying malignancy at 1 year.

Results

Among 153 patients with TLS, 123 (80.4%) patients experienced AKI and 83 (54.2%) required renal replacement therapy. mSOFA score (OR = 1.15, IC 95% [1.02–1.34]), age (OR = 1.05, IC 95% [1.02–1.08]) and male gender (OR = 6.79, IC 95% [2.59–19.44]) were associated with AKI. Rasburicase use (HR = 2.45, IC 95% [1.17–5.15]) was associated with remission of the underlying malignancy at 1 year. Parameters associated with mortality at 1 year were mechanical ventilation (HR = 1.96, IC 95% [1.02–3.78]), vasopressors (HR = 3.13, IC 95% [1.59–6.15]), age (HR = 1.02, IC 95% [1–1.03]), spontaneous TLS (HR = 1.65, IC 95% [1.01–2.69]) and delay of chemotherapy administration (HR = 1.01, IC 95% [1–1.03]).

Conclusions

AKI is highly prevalent in TLS patients. Rasburicase is associated with better outcomes regarding remission of the underlying malignancy. As rasburicase may be an indirect marker of a high degree of tumor lysis and chemosensitivity, more studies are warranted to confirm the protective role of urate oxidase. Delaying chemotherapy may be deleterious in terms of long-term outcomes.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13613-022-00990-1.

Serum phosphate level and its kinetic as an early marker of acute kidney injury in tumor lysis syndrome

INTRODUCTION

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major cause of mortality in tumor lysis syndrome. The biochemical parameters and kinetics of tumor lysis syndrome remain poorly described. Particularly, whether blood serum phosphate variations may help in the identification and management of patients who will eventually develop AKI remains to be studied.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, we included patients with tumor lysis syndrome episodes without AKI at diagnosis, and analyzed serum phosphate kinetic, clinical and tumor lysis syndrome biochemical variables to identify factors associated with AKI onset, and determine threshold values of phosphatemia associated with AKI development.

RESULTS

One hundred thirty tumor lysis syndrome episodes occurred in 120 patients during an 11-year period at the University Hospital of Angers. AKI developed in 56 tumor lysis syndrome episodes. In multivariable analysis, among the analyzed factors, only an increase in serum phosphate levels (before AKI diagnosis), exposure to platinum salts and an increase in LDH levels were associated with AKI development. Before AKI onset, a serum phosphate cut-off of 2.1 mmol/L was not effective in predicting AKI development (sensitivity 48%, specificity 84%, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) 0.63 [0.52-0.74]). No other biochemical parameters were effective to better predict AKI occurrence.

CONCLUSION

This work suggests that increases in serum phosphate and LDH appear to be early and reliable biomarkers of AKI in tumor lysis syndrome. No valuable threshold value of serum phosphate was found to effectively predict AKI. This work is the basis for further prospective controlled studies on phosphate monitoring and phosphate lowering therapies to prevent AKI during tumor lysis syndrome.

Impact of early rasburicase on incidence of clinical tumor lysis syndrome in lymphoma

Early administration of rasburicase to enhance uric acid (UA) elimination has been adopted without robust evidence in support of its impact on clinical outcomes in tumor lysis syndrome (TLS), specifically, the prevention of acute kidney injury (AKI). This was a retrospective cohort study of adult lymphoma patients at intermediate or high risk for TLS. Excluded patients had AKI or were on dialysis at hospital admission. The incidence of new AKI in the setting of TLS was described along with predictors of its development, including early rasburicase use. In 383 included patients, the incidence of new-onset AKI during hospitalization was 6%. Predictors included age, history of renal or cardiovascular disease, and UA >8 mg/dL. Rasburicase use did not significantly impact the risk of developing AKI (HR 2.3; p = .11). The UA level at the time of administration did not modify the effect of rasburicase on prevention of AKI (p = .36 for the interaction term).

Association and prognostic value of serum Cystatin C, IL-18 and Uric acid in urological patients with acute kidney injury

PURPOSE

To assess the role of serum Cystatin C, IL-18 and Uric acid in acute kidney injury (AKI) in urological patients, along with their prognostic significance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Prospective observational study included 61 cases, admitted in urology ward with baseline serum creatinine ≤1.5 mg/dL. All patients had at least one or more predisposing factors for AKI. Daily urine output and creatinine level were checked. Serum levels of biomarkers were measured at baseline and postoperatively after 24 h. Development of AKI and its outcome were analysed.

RESULTS

Thirty nine patients (63.9%) developed AKI in the study. Patients with AKI were found to have a greater percentage rise of Cystatin C (118.7% v/s 81.8%, p = 0.005), IL-18 (59.0% v/s 25.5%, p = 0.004) and Uric acid (34.3% v/s 19.2%, p = 0.008) after 24 h. Absolute Uric acid level at day 1 was also significantly associated with AKI (5.18 ± 0.91 v/s 4.45 ± 0.86, p = 0.003). Risk stratification of AKI was poor for all biomarkers. Area under curve for Cystatin C, IL-18 and Uric acid was 0.715, 0.696 and 0.734 respectively. Renal function after 3 months, had a positive correlation with baseline creatinine and baseline Cystatin C levels (r = 0.56 & 0.39).

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative serum Cystatin C, IL-18 and Uric acid after 24 h were significantly associated with AKI. Baseline Cystatin C had moderate capability to predict short term renal function.

In-Hospital Outcomes of Tumor Lysis Syndrome: A Population-Based Study Using the National Inpatient Sample

The epidemiology and outcomes of tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) are understudied. We used the National Inpatient Sample (NIS), a nationally representative weighted sample of all U.S. hospital discharges, to study outcomes and predictors of mortality in hospitalized patients with TLS. The NIS was queried for patients with a discharge diagnosis of TLS (ICD-9 code 277.88) from 2010-2013. Baseline characteristics and outcomes were analyzed. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of mortality. From 2010-2013, 28,370 patients were discharged with a diagnosis of TLS. The most common malignancies were non-Hodgkin lymphoma (30%), solid tumors (20%), acute myeloid leukemia (19%), and acute lymphocytic leukemia (13%). Overall in-hospital mortality was 21%. The median length of stay was 10 days (IQR 5-22). Sixty-nine percent of patients experienced a severe complication, including sepsis (22%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 21-23), dialysis (15%, 95% CI 14-16), acute respiratory failure (23%, 95% CI 22-24), mechanical ventilation (16%, 95% CI 15-17), gastrointestinal hemorrhage (6%, 95% CI 5-7), cerebral hemorrhage (2%, 95% CI 2-3), seizures (1%, 95% CI 0.6-1), and cardiac arrest (2%, 95% CI 2-3). Predictors of mortality were derived from a multivariable logistic regression and included age, Elixhauser comorbidity score, insurance status, teaching versus nonteaching hospital, and cancer type. Predictors of increased length of stay included age, race, teaching versus nonteaching hospital, and cancer type. In the U.S., many patients with TLS develop life-threatening complications and a quarter die during hospitalization. As more cancer treatments become available, strategies to improve the supportive care of patients with TLS should be a priority.

Rasburicase in the management of tumor lysis: an evidence-based review of its place in therapy

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a potentially life-threatening complication of cancer therapy characterized by two or more of the following laboratory abnormalities: hyperuricemia, hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, and hyperphosphatemia, with resultant end-organ damage, eg, renal failure, seizures, or cardiac arrhythmias. High-risk patients include those with highly proliferative cancers and/or large tumor burdens, particularly in the setting of highly effective chemotherapy, among other risk factors. Before 2002, antihyperuricemic drug therapy was limited to allopurinol, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor. Rasburicase, a recombinant urate oxidase, was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for children in 2002 and adults in 2009, ushering in a new era in TLS therapy. We attempted to critically appraise the available evidence supporting the perceived benefits of rasburicase in the management of TLS. A Medline search yielded 98 relevant articles, including 26 retrospective and 22 prospective studies of rasburicase for the treatment of TLS, which were then evaluated to determine the best available evidence for the effectiveness of rasburicase in terms of disease-oriented, patient-oriented, and economic outcomes. Rasburicase is now a standard of care for patients at high risk of TLS despite continuing debate on the correlation between its profound and rapid lowering of plasma uric acid levels with hard patient outcomes, eg, need for renal replacement therapy and mortality. Rasburicase is dramatically effective in lowering plasma uric acid levels. The mortality and cost-effectiveness benefits of this expensive drug remain to be conclusively proven, and well designed, randomized controlled trials are needed to answer these fundamentally important questions.