Acute tumor lysis syndrome in hematologic malignancies

Acute tumor lysis syndrome (ATLS) represents one of the most urgent of all oncologic treatment related complications. This is due not only to its broad impact on organ dysfunction, but also to its relative ease of prevention and treatment when aware of its potential threat. Despite anecdotal experiences of ATLS in settings outside the use of chemotherapy, the majority of patients susceptible to ATLS can be predicted using clinical as well as laboratory parameters and prophylaxis can prevent this potentially lethal consequence of otherwise successful cancer therapeutics. This review article will attempt to bring the critical aspects involving ATLS together in order to delineate the pathophysiology as well as treatment of this generally avoidable entity.