Complications of “Very High” Leukocytosis in Pediatric Acute Leukemia Patients Managed Without Rasburicase and Leukopheresis

The authors evaluated complications in pediatric acute leukemia with “very high” leukocytosis (VHL) prior to rasburicase availability and without leukopheresis. From Jun 2003 through Dec 2009, 45 out of 457 (10 %) pediatric acute leukemia patients had VHL. Median WBC for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients was 296,500/mm³ (200,000–615,220) and 206,300/mm³ (106,100–541,900) respectively. Laboratory and clinical tumor-lysis-syndrome was seen in 37.7 % and 13.3 % patients respectively; none required dialysis; 6.6 % died due to CNS/pulmonary bleed. Thrombocytopenia <31,000/mm³ was associated with hypocalcemia (p = 0.04) and mortality (p = 0.04), and hypoalbuminemia with kidney dysfunction (p = 0.04). In resource-limited setting, VHL patients with thrombocytopenia may warrant rasburicase with or without leukopheresis, and aggressive platelet support.