Outcome of acute myeloid leukemia patients with hyperleukocytosis in Brazil

Pediatric acute myeloid leukemia and hyperleukocytosis with WBC count greater than 50 × 109/L

BACKGROUND

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and hyperleukocytosis have an unfavorable prognosis, but the impact of hyperleukocytosis on the prognosis of pediatric AML remains uncertain. We investigated the clinical characteristics and prognosis of pediatric AML with hyperleukocytosis, defined as WBC ≥ 50 × 109/L.

METHODS

A total of 132 patients with newly diagnosed childhood AML with hyperleukocytosis were consecutively enrolled at our center from September 2009 to August 2021 to investigate prognostic factors and clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

Hyperleukocytosis occurred in 27.4% of AML patients. Pediatric patients with hyperleukocytosis had similar CR and OS rates to those without hyperleukocytosis, but had a lower EFS rate. In our study, rates of CR1, mortality, relapsed/refractory disease, and HSCT were comparable between AML patients with WBC counts of 50-100 × 109/L and ≥ 100 × 109/L. AML patients with a WBC count of 50-100 × 109/L had a similar 5-year OS rate to patients with a WBC count ≥ 100 × 109/L (74.6% vs. 75.4%, P = 0.921). Among all patients with hyperleukocytosis, the FAB M5 subtype was associated with significantly inferior survival, and the prognosis of CBF-AML was good.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric AML patients with hyperleukocytosis have the similar prognosis regardless of whether their WBC count is 50-100 × 109/L or ≥ 100 × 109/L.

Analysis of Risk Factors of Coagulation Dysfunction and Hemorrhage in Newly Diagnosed Hyperleukocytic Acute Myeloma Leukemia

Purpose

To explore whether and why abnormal coagulation function and hemorrhage can appear in patients with hyperleukocytic acute myeloid leukemia (HAML).

Method

We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 724 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients admitted with a white blood cell count of >100 × 10⁹/L between 2010 and 2019 in order to analyze the coagulation index of patients with HAML and explore the correlation of abnormal coagulation.

Result

Prothrombin time (PT) was extended in group HAML compared with group non-HAML. Respiratory failure, intracranial hemorrhage, and infection were more common in the HAML group. Among the 76 HAML patients, there were 33 patients who had ≥3 abnormal items of coagulation index, and 51.5% of them had level 2 hemorrhage which was more than level 0 hemorrhage, and the difference is statistically significant (P < 0.01). Similarly, we can discover that 40.9% of patients with 2 abnormal items had level 2 hemorrhage in contrast to 0 abnormal items. The use of hydroxyurea had a significant effect on PT and D-dimer (DD). Survival analysis by the Kaplan–Meier method showed that there were statistically significant differences in white blood cell (WBC) count＞200 × 10⁹//L and DD. Abnormal PT is associated with WBC count＞200 × 10⁹//L, and abnormal activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) is associated with HLA-DR mutation. Infection and respiratory failure were independent influencing factors for the coagulation of patients.

Conclusion

DD had a marked effect on the survival rate. Infection and respiratory failure were independent influencing factors for the coagulation of patients.

Hyperleukocytosis predicts inferior clinical outcome in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia

OBJECTIVES

Hyperleukocytosis (HL) is a laboratory abnormality commonly presented in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, large cohort studies on the clinical significance of HL in pediatric AML are paucity. Moreover, the effect of stem cell transplantation in HL patients remains unknown.

METHODS

The clinical profiles of 885 pediatric patients with AML were downloaded from the TARGET dataset. HL was defined as an initial peripheral WBC count of ≥ 100 ×10⁹/L. We analyzed the prevalence, clinical profile and prognosis of HL in these patients.

RESULTS

The frequency of HL among all the pediatric AML was 22.6%. FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3/internal tandem duplication (FLT3/ITD) mutation and gene fusion of NUP98/NSD1 occurred with higher incidence in HL patients. Overall, HL was associated with a low induction complete remission rate, and high risk of induction death. Moreover, HL predicted a significantly inferior 5-year event-free survival (EFS) (P < 0.001) and a trend of inferior 5-year overall survival (OS) (P = 0.059). However, compared with chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation had no significant effect on the survival of HL patients in terms of 5-year leukemia-free survival (P = 0.449) or OS (P = 0.447). Multivariate analysis revealed that HL was an independent prognosis factor for EFS (Hazard ratio:1.352, P = 0.013) but not for OS (Hazard ratio:1.225, P = 0.170) in pediatric AML.

CONCLUSION

HL might predict inferior clinical outcome in pediatric AML. SCT is an effective therapy for AML, but it may have no better effect on the survival of patients with HL, compared to chemotherapy.

A hospital based retrospective study of factors influencing therapeutic leukapheresis in patients presenting with hyperleukocytic leukaemia

Therapeutic leukapheresis is a rapid and effective method to reduce early mortality of patients with hyperleukocytic leukaemia (HLL). However, few studies on factors influencing the efficiency have been reported. In this study, 67 cases who underwent leukapheresis were retrospectively analysed and factors related to the collection efficiency of leukapheresis (CE_WBC) were also evaluated. Paired t test showed that there was a significant decrease in statistics of white blood cell (WBC) counts after apheresis. The results of two independent samples nonparametric test suggested that WBC counts, platelet (PLT) counts, haematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin (HGB), serum chlorine (Cl) and globulin (GLB) before leukapheresis correlated with the CE_WBC. Multiple linear regression analysis with background stepwise variable selection indicated that only WBC and HCT before leukapheresis had an influence on CE_WBC significantly. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression model indicated that lymphocyte (LY) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) pre-apheresis as independent factors significantly affected the prognostic survival of patients with HLL. Moreover, platelets and red blood cell were contaminated in the product of leukapheresis. It is an urgent problem to be solved in order to realise higher efficacy and higher purity of WBC collection to improve the survival of patients with HLL through optimising instruments.

Improvement of relative survival in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukaemia emerging from population-based cancer registries in Switzerland between 2001 and 2013

Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) is a rare and heterogeneous haematological malignancy with increasing incidence in the elderly. We performed a population-based, observational analysis of AML cases reported to the Cantonal Cancer Registries in Switzerland. Data was aggregated by the National Institute for Epidemiology and Cancer Registration and stratified for the two time periods 2001-2007 and 2008-2013. Overall, 2351 new AML cases were registered with a stable age-standardised incidence rate (3.0 [95 CI: 2.8-3.2] per 100,000 person-years). This indicates that our observed raise of annual AML cases (+10.9%) is mainly related to demographic ageing and not to an increase of age-specific risks. The fraction of non-classifiable AML cases decreased over time (54.6% to 41.8%) but remained high in elderly patients (65-74yrs: 44%; 75-84yrs: 54.2%, 85+yrs: 59.1%), suggesting less accurate diagnostics and reporting with increasing age. 5yrs relative survival (RS) correlated with AML risk class (favorable: 61.7%-68.4%; adverse risk: 11.4%-21.9%) and age (<65yrs: 42.6-43.3%; 75-84yrs: 2.0-3.0%), but improved only modestly overall (19.2% to 23.3%). Interestingly, we identified a significant improvement of RS in patients aged 65-74yrs (5yrs: 5.2% to 13.5%; p<0.001). As surrogate for changes in management, we found an increase of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantations (1.4 to 7%) and clinical trial activities (25 to 29%) for elderly AML patients during the observation period. Our analysis indicates that recent progress made in management of elderly AML patients results in an improvement of survival on a population-based level in Switzerland and that therapeutic nihilism is not justifiable.

Prognostic Parameters of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia at Presentation

INTRODUCTION

The treatment response and outcome in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is heterogeneous.

AIM

To analyze the prognostic parameters of AML at presentation.

METHODS

The total sample of 44 AML patients was analyzed on the basis of age <55 and ≥55 years, sex, WBC count <50x10/⁹/l and ≥50x10/⁹/l, the Hb concentration <100 g/l and ≥100 g/l, PLT count <100x10/⁹/l and ≥100x10/⁹/l, Karnofsky score <60% and >60%, cytogenetics, CD56 expression, morphological type and types of treatment (standard and reduced induction chemotherapy, high-dose chemotherapy/stem cell transplantation - autologous and HLA matched, related, allogeneic, together and separately).

RESULTS

The age <55 years, Karnofsky score >60% and standard induction chemotherapy statistically correlated with the higher complete remission (CR) rates, longer relapse free survival (RFS), lower relapse rate (RR), and longer overall survival (OS) (p<0.01). The difference in terms of CR and RR between the sexes were not statistically significant (p<0.05), however women had statistically lower OS comparing to men (9.71±4.54 months vs. 38.03±9.17 months) (p<0.01). WBC count ≥ 50x10/⁹/l and the Hb concentration <100 g/l statistically correlated with shorter OS (p<0.05), while the WBC count ≥50x10/⁹/l statistically correlated with shorter RFS (p<0.05). The PLT count <100x10/⁹/l and ≥100x10/⁹/l was not found as prognostically significant for CR, RR, RFS, and OS (p<0.05). In comparison to the standard induction chemotherapy, both types of high dose chemotherapy/stem cell transplantation (HDT/SCT) (10/22), together and separately, resulted in longer RFS, lower RR, and longer OS (p<0.05). The frequency of cytogenetic risk was intermediate 81.6%, unfavorable 13.2%, and favorable 5.3%, respectively. CD56 + expression statistically correlated with the lower PLT count, higher RR, shorter RFS, and shorter OS (p<0.05). Statistical analysis of the cytogenetic risk and morphological types of AML were not possible due to the small number of patients in stratified groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Female sex, the WBC count >50x10/⁹/l, the concentration of Hb <100 g/l, and CD56 + expression, at presentation of AML, should be considered as parameters of adverse risk, especially in latter decisions considering post-remission treatment with HDT/SCT.

Chest radiographic and CT findings in hyperleukocytic acute myeloid leukemia: A retrospective cohort study of 73 patients

Hyperleukocytic acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with pulmonary complications and high early mortality rate, but given its rarity, data on chest radiographic presentation are scarce.We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 73 AML patients admitted with white blood cell count >100 × 10/L between 2003 and 2014 in order to describe the chest radiographic and computed tomography (CT) findings and to correlate them with AML subtype and respiratory symptoms.Forty-two of the 73 patients (58%) overall and 36 of the 54 patients (67%) with clinical signs of pulmonary leukostasis had abnormal radiographs on admission. The presence of radiographic abnormalities was significantly associated with dyspnea and oxygen/ventilatory support requirements (P < 0.01) and with day 28 mortality (45% vs 13%, P = 0.005) but not with monocytic subtype of AML. Sixteen patients had isolated focal basilar airspace opacities, unilateral (n = 13) or bilateral (n = 3), while 16 patients had bilateral diffuse opacities, interstitial (n = 12) or airspace and interstitial (n = 4). Two patients had isolated pleural effusion, 2 patients had unilateral midlung airspace opacities, and 6 patients had a combination of focal airspace and diffuse interstitial opacities. Overall, 2 patterns accounted for 75% of abnormal findings: bilateral diffuse opacities tended to be associated with monocytic AML, whereas basilar focal airspace opacities were more frequent in nonmonocytic AML (P < 0.05). Eighteen patients had CT scans, revealing interlobular septal thickening (n = 12), airspace (n = 11) and ground-glass (n = 9) opacities, pleural effusions (n = 12), and acute pulmonary embolism (n = 2).Hyperleukocytic AML is frequently associated with abnormal chest radiographs, involving mostly focal basilar airspace opacities (more frequent in nonmonocytic AML) or diffuse bilateral opacities. CT scan should be considered broadly due to the suboptimal resolution of radiographs for detecting signs of leukostasis.

Co-occurrence of hyperleukocytosis and elevated fibrin-fibrinogen degradation product levels is a risk factor for early intracranial hemorrhage in patients with de novo acute leukemia

Early intracranial hemorrhage (eICH) is a potentially fatal complication of acute leukemia. We analyzed risk factors for eICH in patients with de novo acute leukemia. Ninety-one de novo acute leukemia patients at our institution between September 2003 and June 2014 were included. Of the 91 patients, eight (8.8 %) and 83 were included in the eICH and non-eICH groups, respectively. Univariate analysis demonstrated that white blood cell (WBC) count (P = 0.018), fibrin-fibrinogen degradation product (FDP) level (P = 0.0075), co-occurrence of WBC ≥50,000/µl and FDP level >40 µg/ml (P < 0.001), and fever (P = 0.248) were all significant predictors of eICH at the 0.25 level. In a subsequent multivariate analysis involving these parameters, only the combination of hyperleukocytosis and elevated FDP levels was found to be significant at the 0.05 level. A significant difference in the duration of the overall survival (OS) period was detected between patients that did and did not exhibit the combination of hyperleukocytosis and elevated FDP levels (P < 0.001). Co-occurrence of hyperleukocytosis and elevated FDP levels is a significant risk factor for eICH in patients with de novo acute leukemia and has a significant adverse affect on OS.

Leukostasis in adult acute hyperleukocytic leukemia: a clinician's digest

Leukostasis is a poorly understood and life-threatening complication of acute hyperleukocytic leukemia. The incidence of hyperleukocytosis and leukostasis differs among various subtypes of leukemias. While the pathophysiology of leukostasis is not fully understood, recent research has elucidated many novel pathways that may have therapeutic implications in the future. Respiratory and neurological compromise represents the classical clinical manifestations of leukostasis. If it is not diagnosed and treated rapidly, the one-week mortality rate is approximately 40%. Targeted induction chemotherapy is an important component of the successful treatment of leukostasis, although other modalities of cytoreduction are being used and investigated. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Pre-treatment with oral hydroxyurea prior to intensive chemotherapy improves early survival of patients with high hyperleukocytosis in acute myeloid leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia with high white blood cell count (WBC) is a medical emergency. A reduction of tumor burden with hydroxyurea may prevent life-threatening complications induced by straight chemotherapy. To evaluate this strategy, we reviewed medical charts of adult patients admitted to our institution from 1997 to 2011 with non-promyelocytic AML and WBC over 50 G/L. One hundred and sixty patients were included with a median WBC of 120 G/L (range 50-450), 107 patients received hydroxyurea prior to chemotherapy, and 53 received emergency induction chemotherapy (CT). Hospital mortality was lower for patients treated with hydroxyurea (34% versus 19%, p = 0.047) even after adjusting for age (p < 0.01) and initial WBC count (p = 0.02). No evidence of any difference between treatment groups in terms of WBC decline kinetics and disease free survival (p = 0.87) was found. Oral hydroxyurea prior to chemotherapy seems a safe and efficient strategy to reduce early death of hyperleukocytic AML patients.

Hyperleukocytosis: A report of five cases and review of the literature

Hyperleukocytosis (white blood cell count, >100×10⁹/l), an uncommon presentation of leukemia, is associated with an increased risk of early mortality. It may present with a variety of symptoms secondary to leukostasis, a syndrome caused by the sludging of circulating leukemic blasts in the microvasculature. Adequate measures for managing this medical emergency include hydration, cytoreduction, prevention of tumor lysis and, rarely, leukapheresis in cases complicated by leukostasis and hyperviscosity syndrome. The present study reports a case series of five patients with hyperleukocytic leukemia. In addition, a review of the literature with regard to the incidence, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations and management of this laboratory abnormality is included. This study demonstrated that the central nervous system and lungs are the most common sites for leukostasis, and that emergency cases require aggressive treatment.

The role of therapeutic leukapheresis in hyperleukocytotic AML

PURPOSE

Hyperleukocytosis in AML with leukostasis is a serious life-threatening condition leading to a high early mortality which requires immediate cytoreductive therapy. Therapeutic leukapheresis is currently recommended by the American Society of Apheresis in patients with a WBC>100 G/l with signs of leukostasis, but the role of prophylactic leukapheresis before clinical signs of leukostasis occur is unclear.

PATIENTS

We retrospectively analyzed the role of leukapheresis in 52 patients (median age 60 years) with hyperleukocytotic AML with and without clinical signs of leukostasis. Since leukapheresis was performed more frequently in patients with signs of leukostasis due to the therapeutic policy in our hospital, we developed a risk score for early death within seven days after start of therapy (EDd7) to account for this selection bias and to independently measure the effect of leukapheresis on EDd7.

RESULTS

20 patients received leukapheresis in combination to chemotherapy compared to 32 patients who received chemotherapy only. In a multivariate logistic regression model for the estimation of the probability of EDd7 thromboplastin time and creatinine remained as independent significant parameters and were combined to create an EDd7 risk score. The effect of leukapheresis on EDd7 was evaluated in a bivariate logistic regression together with the risk score. Leukapheresis did not significantly change early mortality in all patients with a WBC≥100 G/l.

DISCUSSION

Prophylactic leukapheresis in hyperleukocytotic patients with and without leukostasis did not improve early mortality in our retrospective study. Larger and prospective clinical trials are needed to validate the risk score and to further explore the role of leukapheresis in AML with hyperleukocytosis.

Cranial irradiation in adults diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia presenting with hyperleukocytosis and neurologic dysfunction

This study describes our institution's experience using whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) to treat patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) presenting with hyperleukocytosis. After approval by the institutional review board, we identified patients with AML and hyperleukocytosis using hospital records. The primary endpoints in the study included alleviation of neurological symptoms (or prevention if prophylactic RT was used), overall survival, development of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and ≥ grade 3 toxicities using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0 (CTCAE v4.0). Eighteen patients received WBRT for the treatment of AML hyperleukocytosis. Thirteen patients received treatment in order to control neurological symptoms. Clinical assessment showed that 12 of 13 patients (92%) achieved resolution of neurological symptoms either concurrent with RT or immediately after RT. The mean overall survival for all of the patients who received WBRT was 14.2 months (95% confidence interval, 5.4-23.0). No patient who received RT experienced ≥ grade 3 toxicity. Two (6%) patients developed ICH following therapy. Our institution's experience demonstrates that WBRT may be utilized as part of multimodality therapy in order to alleviate or prevent neurological symptoms in patients with AML presenting with leukostasis.

Differentiation syndrome in promyelocytic leukemia: clinical presentation, pathogenesis and treatment

Differentiation syndrome (DS) represents a life-threatening complication in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) undergoing induction therapy with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) or arsenic trioxide (ATO). It affected about 20–25% of all patients and so far there are no definitive diagnostic criteria. Clinically, DS is characterized by weight gain, fever not attributable to infection, respiratory distress, cardiac involvement, hypotension, and/or acute renal failure. At the histological point of view, there is an extensive interstitial and intra-alveolar pulmonary infiltration by maturing myeloid cells, endothelial cell damage, intra-alveolar edema, inter-alveolar hemorrhage, and fibrinous exsudates. DS pathogenesis is not completely understood, but it is believed that an excessive inflammatory response is the main phenomenon involved, which results in increased production of chemokines and expression of adhesion molecules on APL cells. Due to the high morbidity and mortality associated with DS, its recognition and the prompt initiation of the treatment is of utmost importance. Dexamethasone is considered the mainstay of treatment of DS, and the recommended dose is 10 mg twice daily by intravenous route until resolution of DS. In severe cases (respiratory or acute renal failure) it is recommended the discontinuation of ATRA or ATO until recovery.