Results of high-risk neutropenia therapy of hematology-oncology patients in a university hospital in Uruguay.

BACKGROUND: Febrile neutropenia is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in hematology-oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy. The management of febrile neutropenia is typically algorithm-driven. The aim of this study was to assess the results of a standardized protocol for the treatment of febrile neutropenia. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study (2011-2012) was conducted of patients with high-risk neutropenia in a hematology-oncology service. RESULTS: Forty-four episodes of 17 patients with a median age of 48 years (range: 18-78 years) were included. The incidence of febrile neutropenia was 61.4%. The presence of febrile neutropenia was associated with both the duration and severity of neutropenia. Microbiological agents were isolated from different sources in 59.3% of the episodes with bacteremia isolated from blood being the most prevalent (81.3%). Multiple drug-resistant gram-negative bacilli were isolated in 62.5% of all microbiologically documented infections. Treatment of 63% of the episodes in which the initial treatment was piperacillin/tazobactam needed to be escalated to meropenem. The mortality rate due to febrile neutropenia episodes was 18.5%. CONCLUSION: The high rate of gram-negative bacilli resistant to piperacillin/tazobactam (front-line antibiotics in our protocol) and the early need to escalate to carbapenems raises the question as to whether it is necessary to change the current protocol.

Results of high-risk neutropenia therapy of hematology-oncology patients in a university hospital in Uruguay

Background: Febrile neutropenia is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in hematology-oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy. The management of febrile neutropenia is typically algorithm-driven. The aim of this study was to assess the results of a standardized protocol for the treatment of febrile neutropenia. Methods: A retrospective cohort study (2011-2012) was conducted of patients with high-risk neutropenia in a hematology-oncology service. Results: Forty-four episodes of 17 patients with a median age of 48 years (range: 18-78 years) were included. The incidence of febrile neutropenia was 61.4%. The presence of febrile neutropenia was associated with both the duration and severity of neutropenia. Microbiological agents were isolated from different sources in 59.3% of the episodes with bacteremia iso- lated from blood being the most prevalent (81.3%). Multiple drug-resistant gram-negative bacilli were isolated in 62.5% of all microbiologically documented infections. Treatment of 63% of the episodes in which the initial treatment was piperacillin/tazobactam needed to be escalated to meropenem. The mortality rate due to febrile neutropenia episodes was 18.5%. Conclusion: The high rate of gram-negative bacilli resistant to piperacillin/tazobactam (frontline antibiotics in our protocol) and the early need to escalate to carbapenems raises the question as to whether it is necessary to change the current protocol. .

[Cytarabine and skin reactions in acute myeloid leukemia]. / Citarabina y reacciones cutáneas en leucemia aguda mieloide.

Cytarabine is an antimetabolite used in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). It has many adverse effects as: myelosuppression, toxic reactions involving central nervous system, liver, gastrointestinal tract, eyes or skin. Dermatologic toxicity is often described as rare; nevertheless there are differences in the reported frequency. We performed a retrospective study including all AML treated with chemotherapy that involved cytarabine between 1st July of 2006 and 1st July of 2012; 46 patients were included with a median age of 55 years. The overall incidence of skin reactions was 39% (n = 18). Sex, age, history of atopy, history of drug reactions, or dose of cytarabine used, were not associated with them. Skin reactions were observed from 2 to 8 days after treatment started. Considering injury degree: 27.8% had grade 1, 38.9% grade 2 and 33.3% grade 3. We did not find any injury grade 4 or death associated with skin toxicity. As for the type of injury: 55.6% presented macules, 22.2% papules and 22.2% erythema. Lesions distribution was diffuse in 52% of patients, acral in 39.3%, and at flexural level in 8.7%. Adverse cutaneous reactions secondary to the administration of cytarabine are frequent in our service and include some cases with severe involvement. Although these reactions usually resolve spontaneously, they determine an increased risk of infection and a compromise of the patient quality of life.

Citarabina y reacciones cutáneas en leucemia aguda mieloide / Cytarabine and skin reactions in acute myeloid leukemia

La citarabina es un antimetabolito utilizado en el tratamiento de las leucemias agudas mieloides (LAM). Esta droga presenta numerosos efectos adversos (mielosupresión, toxicidad en sistema nervioso central, hepática, gastrointestinal, ocular y cutánea). La toxicidad dermatológica es habitualmente descrita como rara, sin embargo existen diferencias en la incidencia comunicada. Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo donde se incluyeron todas las LAM tratadas con quimioterapia que incluía citarabina, entre el 1º de julio 2006 y el 1° de julio 2012. Se incluyeron 46 pacientes con una mediana de edad de 55 años. La incidencia global de reacciones cutáneas fue de 39% (n = 18). La presencia de lesiones cutáneas no se asoció con sexo, edad, antecedentes de atopía, de reacciones medicamentosas, tipo de LAM ni dosis de citarabina utilizada. Las lesiones se observaron entre 2 a 8 días de iniciado el tratamiento. En cuanto al grado lesional, 27.8% presentaron grado 1, 38.9% grado 2 y 33.3% grado 3. No existieron lesiones grado 4 ni muerte vinculada a toxicidad cutánea. En cuanto al tipo de lesiones, 55.6% se presentaban con máculas, 22.2% con pápulas y 22.2% con eritema. Con respecto a la distribución de las lesiones, 52% de los pacientes presentaron una distribución difusa, 39.3% acral y 8.7% a nivel flexural. Las reacciones adversas cutáneas con la administración de citarabina son frecuentes en nuestro medio, en algunos casos con afectación grave. Si bien suelen resolverse espontáneamente, pueden determinar mayor riesgo de infección, así como comprometer la calidad de vida.

Cytarabine is an antimetabolite used in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). It has many adverse effects as: myelosuppression, toxic reactions involving central nervous system, liver, gastrointestinal tract, eyes or skin. Dermatologic toxicity is often described as rare; nevertheless there are differences in the reported frequency. We performed a retrospective study including all AML treated with chemotherapy that involved cytarabine between 1st July of 2006 and 1st July of 2012; 46 patients were included with a median age of 55 years. The overall incidence of skin reactions was 39% (n = 18). Sex, age, history of atopy, history of drug reactions, or dose of cytarabine used, were not associated with them. Skin reactions were observed from 2 to 8 days after treatment started. Considering injury degree: 27.8% had grade 1, 38.9% grade 2 and 33.3% grade 3. We did not find any injury grade 4 or death associated with skin toxicity. As for the type of injury: 55.6% presented macules, 22.2% papules and 22.2% erythema. Lesions distribution was diffuse in 52% of patients, acral in 39.3%, and at flexural level in 8.7%. Adverse cutaneous reactions secondary to the administration of cytarabine are frequent in our service and include some cases with severe involvement. Although these reactions usually resolve spontaneously, they determine an increased risk of infection and a compromise of the patient quality of life.

Citarabina y reacciones cutáneas en leucemia aguda mieloide / Cytarabine and skin reactions in acute myeloid leukemia

La citarabina es un antimetabolito utilizado en el tratamiento de las leucemias agudas mieloides (LAM). Esta droga presenta numerosos efectos adversos (mielosupresión, toxicidad en sistema nervioso central, hepática, gastrointestinal, ocular y cutánea). La toxicidad dermatológica es habitualmente descrita como rara, sin embargo existen diferencias en la incidencia comunicada. Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo donde se incluyeron todas las LAM tratadas con quimioterapia que incluía citarabina, entre el 1º de julio 2006 y el 1° de julio 2012. Se incluyeron 46 pacientes con una mediana de edad de 55 años. La incidencia global de reacciones cutáneas fue de 39% (n = 18). La presencia de lesiones cutáneas no se asoció con sexo, edad, antecedentes de atopía, de reacciones medicamentosas, tipo de LAM ni dosis de citarabina utilizada. Las lesiones se observaron entre 2 a 8 días de iniciado el tratamiento. En cuanto al grado lesional, 27.8% presentaron grado 1, 38.9% grado 2 y 33.3% grado 3. No existieron lesiones grado 4 ni muerte vinculada a toxicidad cutánea. En cuanto al tipo de lesiones, 55.6% se presentaban con máculas, 22.2% con pápulas y 22.2% con eritema. Con respecto a la distribución de las lesiones, 52% de los pacientes presentaron una distribución difusa, 39.3% acral y 8.7% a nivel flexural. Las reacciones adversas cutáneas con la administración de citarabina son frecuentes en nuestro medio, en algunos casos con afectación grave. Si bien suelen resolverse espontáneamente, pueden determinar mayor riesgo de infección, así como comprometer la calidad de vida.(AU)

Cytarabine is an antimetabolite used in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). It has many adverse effects as: myelosuppression, toxic reactions involving central nervous system, liver, gastrointestinal tract, eyes or skin. Dermatologic toxicity is often described as rare; nevertheless there are differences in the reported frequency. We performed a retrospective study including all AML treated with chemotherapy that involved cytarabine between 1st July of 2006 and 1st July of 2012; 46 patients were included with a median age of 55 years. The overall incidence of skin reactions was 39% (n = 18). Sex, age, history of atopy, history of drug reactions, or dose of cytarabine used, were not associated with them. Skin reactions were observed from 2 to 8 days after treatment started. Considering injury degree: 27.8% had grade 1, 38.9% grade 2 and 33.3% grade 3. We did not find any injury grade 4 or death associated with skin toxicity. As for the type of injury: 55.6% presented macules, 22.2% papules and 22.2% erythema. Lesions distribution was diffuse in 52% of patients, acral in 39.3%, and at flexural level in 8.7%. Adverse cutaneous reactions secondary to the administration of cytarabine are frequent in our service and include some cases with severe involvement. Although these reactions usually resolve spontaneously, they determine an increased risk of infection and a compromise of the patient quality of life.(AU)

Manifestaciones articulares como debutde leucemia aguda linfoblástica: presentación de tres casos / Articular symptoms as an initial manifestation of acute lymphoblastic leukemia

La leucemia aguda linfoblástica tiene una incidencia global de 1,7/100.000 habitantes/año y es la enfermedad oncológica más frecuente en la infancia. La presentación con dolores óseos y articulares es frecuente en los adolescentes y niños, con una incidencia reportada de 1/3 de los casos.Se describen tres casos de leucemia aguda linfoblástica diagnosticados en la Cátedra de Hematología del Hospitalde Clínicas con debut bajo forma de artritis. Esta forma conlleva en general un retraso en el diagnóstico debido aun bajo índice de sospecha.

The worldwide annual incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia is 1.7 per 100,000 people and it constitutes the most common form of cancer in childhood. Bone and joint pain as an initial manifestation of cancer is frequent in adolescents and children, the incidence reported accounting for 1 out of three cases. The study describes three cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia diagnosed in the Hematology Chair of the University Hospital, the initial presentation of which was arthritis, being diagnose delayed due to the low rates of suspicion.

A incidência global da leucemia aguda linfoblástica é de 1,7/100.000 habitantes/ano sendo a patologia oncológica mais frequente na infância. A apresentação com dores ósseas e articulares é frequente nos adolescentes e nas crianças, com uma incidência de 1/3 dos casos. Descrevemos três casos de leucemia aguda linfoblásticadiagnosticados na Cátedra de Hematologia do Hospital das Clínicas que se apresentaram ao principio como artrite. De maneira geral, esta forma de apresentação causa um atraso no diagnóstico, pois poucas vezes sesuspeita de leucemia.

Citarabina y reacciones cutáneas en leucemia aguda mieloide. / [Cytarabine and skin reactions in acute myeloid leukemia].

Cytarabine is an antimetabolite used in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). It has many adverse effects as: myelosuppression, toxic reactions involving central nervous system, liver, gastrointestinal tract, eyes or skin. Dermatologic toxicity is often described as rare; nevertheless there are differences in the reported frequency. We performed a retrospective study including all AML treated with chemotherapy that involved cytarabine between 1st July of 2006 and 1st July of 2012; 46 patients were included with a median age of 55 years. The overall incidence of skin reactions was 39

(n = 18). Sex, age, history of atopy, history of drug reactions, or dose of cytarabine used, were not associated with them. Skin reactions were observed from 2 to 8 days after treatment started. Considering injury degree: 27.8

had grade 1, 38.9

grade 2 and 33.3

grade 3. We did not find any injury grade 4 or death associated with skin toxicity. As for the type of injury: 55.6

presented macules, 22.2

papules and 22.2

erythema. Lesions distribution was diffuse in 52

of patients, acral in 39.3

, and at flexural level in 8.7

. Adverse cutaneous reactions secondary to the administration of cytarabine are frequent in our service and include some cases with severe involvement. Although these reactions usually resolve spontaneously, they determine an increased risk of infection and a compromise of the patient quality of life.