Chemotherapy Complication: Tumour Lysis Syndrome

Question 1

Defintion

Answer 1

An important consideration of acute myeloid leukaemia = a complication during treatment where large numbers of tumour cells are killed or lyses by chemotherapy all at once releasing their content into the blood stream

Question 2

Signs and symptoms

Answer 2

Hyperkalaemia
Hyperphosphataemia
Hyperuricaemia
Hypocalcaemia

Question 3

Treatment

Answer 3

To monitor + treat tumour lysis syndrome, electrolytes should be checked + given the RECOMBINANT URICASE MEDICATION = ALLOPURINOL prior to starting chemo

Question 4

How does ALLOPURINOL work?

Answer 4

Metabolises uric acid into the inactive metabolite, allantoin preventing uric acid build up