The Tumor Lysis Syndrome

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 364; no. 19; pp. 1844 - 1854
• Main Authors: Howard, Scott C, Jones, Deborah P, Pui, Ching-Hon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Waltham, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 12.05.2011
• Subjects: Acute Kidney Injury - etiology; Acute Kidney Injury - therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Child; General aspects; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Risk Assessment; Tumor Lysis Syndrome - complications; Tumor Lysis Syndrome - physiopathology; Tumor Lysis Syndrome - prevention & control; Tumor Lysis Syndrome - therapy; Medicine; Metabolic disorder; Tumor lysis syndrome
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra0904569

The tumor lysis syndrome is the most common disease-related emergency in children and adults with hematologic cancers. This review summarizes current strategies for risk assessment, prophylaxis, and therapy. The tumor lysis syndrome is the most common disease-related emergency encountered by physicians caring for children or adults with hematologic cancers. 1 – 4 Although it develops most often in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or acute leukemia, its frequency is increasing among patients who have tumors that used to be only rarely associated with this complication. 5 – 8 The tumor lysis syndrome occurs when tumor cells release their contents into the bloodstream, either spontaneously or in response to therapy, leading to the characteristic findings of hyperuricemia, hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, and hypocalcemia. 1 – 3 These electrolyte and metabolic disturbances can progress to clinical toxic effects, including . . .