Tumor lysis syndrome

Tumor lysis syndrome is a group of metabolic abnormalities that can follow cancer treatment, when large numbers of tumor cells are killed and release their contents into the bloodstream. It is seen most often after treatment of lymphomas and leukemias, particularly non-Hodgkin lymphoma, acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and usually appears within 24 to 72 hours of chemotherapy, though it can occasionally occur without treatment. The syndrome is marked by high blood potassium, phosphate and uric acid, low blood calcium and raised blood urea nitrogen. These changes can lead to acute kidney failure, seizures, cardiac arrhythmias and death, so people at risk are closely monitored and given prevention such as intravenous hydration and uric acid lowering drugs including allopurinol or rasburicase. A diagnostic classification was defined by Cairo and Bishop in 2004.