Background
Although hyperglycemia and pancreatitis are known side effects of L-asparaginase, both contributing to the development of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is unfamiliar in literature.
Case presentation
We report a case of an adolescent girl, recently diagnosed with ALL, who presented with pain in abdomen and breathing difficulty following chemotherapy with L-asparaginase. On subsequent evaluation, she was found to have high anion gap metabolic acidosis, hyperglycemia and ketonuria. Ultrasonogram showed bulky pancreas. DKA was managed with fluid correction and insulin infusion. Pancreatitis was managed conservatively. She recovered completely with resolution of symptoms and without any major adverse events despite having such severe complications.
Conclusion
We conclude that the combination of DKA and pancreatitis is a rare occurrence with significant morbidity and mortality. We recommend a close monitoring of blood glucose levels for hyperglycemia as well as a high index of clinical suspicion for pancreatitis in patients with ALL receiving L-asparaginase.
This study studied the coorelation between radiological response to induction chemotherapy and acheivement of pCR or near pCR. It was a retrospective analysis in which all patients who received NACT from 2008 till april 2012 were subjected to inclusion criteria. Coorelation analysis was performed between CR + PR and acheivement of pCR or near pCR. Twenty four patients were identified.The primary site of tumor was oral cavity in 19 patients (79.2%), maxilla in 2 patients (4.2%), laryngopharynx in 2 patients (4.2%) and oropharynx in 1 patient (4.2%). The clinical stage was stage IVA in 16 patients ( 66.7%) and IVB in 8 patients (33.3%). The overall response rates ie a combination of CR and PR was seen in 11patients (45.8%). The pCR was seen in 15 patients (62.5%) and rest had near pCR. There was no linear coorelation between radiological size decrement and tumor response. On coorelation analysis the spearman correlation coefficent was −0.039 (P = 0.857). This suggest that presently used radiological response criterias for response assesment in head and neck cancers severly limit our ability to identify patients who would have pCR or near pCR.
e17003 Background: ASCT is part of standard treatment in multiple myeloma (MM).We report the results of such transplants and evaluate the role of prognostic factors if any in our patients. Methods: Sixty-one patients who underwent ASCT between June 1993 and March 2010 were included. Twenty four patients received VAD like regimen. Nineteen patients received novel agent based therapies. Ten patients underwent cyclophosphamide based mobilisation while only G-CSF based mobilisation done in 51 patients. Stem cells were harvested from peripheral blood in all patients. Melphalan was used at 200 mg/m2 in 24 patients. Prognostic factors evaluated for overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were baseline hemoglobin and albumin, ISS stage, disease status at day 100 post transplant, use of maintenance treatment post transplant, response to first line chemotherapy, use of novel agents before transplant and time to transplant from diagnosis. Results: Median age was 46 years. Median baseline haemoglobin (Hb) and albumin were 9.7 g/dl and 3.9 g/dl respectively. At the time of transplant 36% were in complete remission (CR), 5% in very good partial response (VGPR) and 28% in partial remission (PR). Median time to engraftment of neutrophils and platelets was 12 and 17 days respectively. Grade III–IV oral mucositis was seen in 35%. Transplant related mortality was 8.0 %. The 5 year overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) were 73% and 33% respectively. OS was better for patients with pre-transplant Hb greater than 9.7 g/dl (P= .04) and those who achieved CR at day 100 post transplant (P= .03). Patients who received maintenance therapy showed trend towards better OS (P= .07). PFS was better for patients with baseline albumin greater than 3.9g/dl (P = .043), Hb greater than 9.7 g/dl (P = .027) and early stage disease by ISS staging system (P=.001). Conclusions: Our study confirms that ASCT in such patients is safe and effective. Baseline albumin and Hb, ISS stage, day 100 disease response and use of maintenance treatment are important prognostic factors affecting survival.
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