[Experience in diagnosis and treatment of asparaginase-associated pancreatitis in children].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics and the course of diagnosis and therapy of PEG-asparaginase associated pancreatitis (AAP) in childhood, and to reveal the pathophysiology of AAP, enhance the ability of diagnosis and treament. METHOD: Data of 13 cases with AAP in childhood seen from March 2011 to March 2014 were analyzed with regard to clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, imaging feature and treatment. RESULT: AAP was found in 12 of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 1 of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), 8 were boys and 5 were girls, with a mean age 6 years. In 12 cases AAP occurred during the induction-remission treatment, in 1 case during the maintenance- intensification phase. AAP occurred after a median of two doses, and 9 d (median) from the latest administration of PEG-asparaginase. The major manifestations of AAP was abdominal pain (11/13) . At the time of AAP diagnosis during the first 48 hours the median peak serum amylase and serum lipase levels were 559 U/L (range 118-1 585, upper normal limit: 125) and 934 U/L (range 221-1 673, upper normal limit: 300). Three cases with serum amylase and serum lipase levels above 3 times upper normal limit were repeatedly complicated with pancreatic pseudocyst; 11 patients had abnormal CT imaging, 8 cases revealed effusion around the pancreas, and 4 cases had pseudocyst. Therapy with ulinastatin, octreotide acetate, glucocorticoid could relieve abdominal pain significantly. Three cases underwent abdominal puncture drainage and 5 cases fulfilled nasojejunal nutrition therapy. Nine of them were cured, 4 developed pseudocyst, in 2 AAP vanished gradually and 2 died with pseudocyst. CONCLUSION: The major manifestations of AAP were abdominal pain, but sometimes apparent and sometimes latent. Condition of acute pancreatitis may exacerbate rapidly and easily. Early identification had significance. Pancreatic pseudocyst suggested a poor prognosis.