Tumour Lysis Syndrome in children with haematological cancers: Experience at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of tumour lysis syndrome and to identify associated factors and mortality rate in paediatric haematological patients.

METHODS: The prospective study was conducted from April to September 2016 at Indus Children Cancer Hospital, Karachi, and collected data for all new paediatric oncology patients registered with diagnosis of haematological malignancies. Each patient was monitored for a period of three days before and seven days after the start of the treatment. SPSS 21 was used for data analysis.

RESULTS: of the 232 patients, 86(37.1%) developed laboratory tumour lysis syndrome and 35(40.7%) of these patients developed the spontaneous variety. Overall, 24 (10.3%) patients progressed to clinical syndrome with 12(50%) of them developing spontaneous clinical syndrome. Mortality occurred in 17 (7.3%) patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite preventive measures, tumour lysis syndrome remains an oncological emergency in children with haematological malignancies.