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Asparaginase (ASP) is a key part of the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in both adult and pediatric patients. However, many patients experience toxicity associated with ASP treatment such as hypersensitivity reactions. The ALL Hub previously published an article on asparaginase toxicity, discussing the associated issues and potential solutions.
Below, we summarize the results of the NOPHO ALL2008 study (NCT00819351) evaluating ASP re-exposure after cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT) in pediatric and adult patients with ALL, recently published by Skipper, et al., in EJHaem.1
CSVT is a well-known complication, causing mortality in 1–3% of patients with ALL during ASP therapy. Multiple factors can adversely affect the hemostatic balance in patients with ALL such as ASP, corticosteroids, infection, and high body mass index. However, early termination of ASP therapy is associated with an increased risk of relapse. Data supporting the re-exposure of patients to ASP after CSVT is still lacking; therefore, this study was conducted to examine the frequency of ASP re-exposure after CSVT in patients with ALL.
This was an observational study including children and adults aged 1–45 years at the time of ALL diagnosis who were treated according to the Nordic Society of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology (NOPHO) ALL2008 protocol between July 2008 and October 2018.
Data were entered into standardized registration forms at three timepoints: (a) at CSVT diagnosis, (b) before ASP re-exposure (in patients re-exposed to ASP), and (c) at last follow-up.
Figure 1. Study design*
ALL, acute lymphoblastic leukemia; ASP, asparaginase; CSVT, cerebral sinovenous thrombosis.
*Adapted from Skipper, et al.1
†Three patients died and did not receive ALL treatment after CSVT; one had received all ASP doses prior to CSVT.
‡With low-molecular-weight heparin coverage.
Table 1. Clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcome*
Characteristics, % (unless otherwise stated) |
Total |
Re-exposure analyses (n = 42)† |
p value |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Re-exposed to ASP (n = 31) |
Not re-exposed to ASP (n = 11) |
|
Neurological status at diagnosis |
|
|
|
|
Seizures |
40 |
48 |
18 |
0.08 |
Affected consciousness |
29 |
27 |
27 |
0.97 |
Visual disturbance |
12 |
5 |
27 |
0.07 |
Headache |
63 |
59 |
72 |
0.41 |
Nausea/vomiting |
28 |
34 |
18 |
0.32 |
Motor difficulties |
37 |
38 |
36 |
0.93 |
Median modified Rankin Scale (IQR) |
2 (1–4) |
2 (1–2.75) |
3 (1.8–3.25) |
0.14 |
Imaging at diagnosis |
|
|
|
|
Parenchymal lesions |
44 |
48 |
30 |
0.34 |
Bilateral lesions |
21 |
19 |
10 |
0.52 |
Oedema |
23 |
26 |
0 |
0.09 |
Hemorrhage |
31 |
26 |
30 |
0.82 |
≥1 venous infarction |
23 |
27 |
10 |
0.27 |
CSVT score |
|
|
|
|
1 point |
28 |
30 |
22 |
0.13 |
2 points |
18 |
26 |
0 |
|
3–4 points |
38 |
37 |
44 |
|
>4 points |
15 |
7 |
33 |
|
ALL treatment |
|
|
|
|
Median days on any antithrombotic treatment (IQR) |
232 (183–403) |
240 (184–408) |
280 (175–662) |
0.72 |
Truncation of ASP after CSVT |
|
|
|
|
≥1 ASP dose omitted |
84 |
81 |
100 |
0.12 |
Median number of ASP |
2.5 (1–6.75) |
2 (1–5) |
6 (4–8) |
<0.01 |
≥1 intrathecal |
33 |
30 |
36 |
0.7 |
Outcome at follow-up |
|
|
|
|
Median follow-up (IQR), |
4.5 (2.8–7.4) |
4.6 (2.8–6.8) |
7.59 (3.3–9.5) |
0.43 |
Major bleeding during |
4 (0.10) |
1 (0.039) |
1 (0.079) |
0.66 |
Imaging at follow-up |
|
|
|
|
Recanalisation |
|
|
|
|
No recanalisation |
3 |
4 |
0 |
0.48 |
Grade I: partial |
29 |
26 |
30 |
|
Grade II: complete of ≥1 |
11 |
4 |
20 |
|
Grade III: complete of all |
57 |
65 |
50 |
|
CSVT score at follow-up |
|
|
|
|
No thrombosis, 0 points |
61 |
67 |
56 |
0.43 |
1 point |
29 |
29 |
22 |
|
2 points |
6 |
5 |
11 |
|
3–4 points |
3 |
0 |
11 |
|
ALL, acute lymphoblastic leukemia; ASP, asparaginase; BMI, body mass index; CSVT, cerebral sinovenous thrombosis; IR, incidence rate; IQR, interquartile range; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; SD, standard deviation. |
In this study, re-exposure to ASP after CSVT during anticoagulation was found to be safe in patients aged 1–45 years with ALL. Neurological outcomes and recanalization of CSVT were comparable between re-exposed and non-re-exposed patients at the time of the last follow-up, and no factors significantly affected re-exposure to ASP except in the early ALL treatment phase at CSVT diagnosis.
References
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