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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Assessment of the Metabolic Profile of Primary Leukemia Cells
Published on: November 21, 2018
Alterations in electrolyte equilibrium in patients with acute leukemia
Theodosios D Filippatos1, Haralampos J Milionis, Moses S Elisaf
1Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
Patients with acute leukemia (AL) frequently experience electrolyte abnormalities, such as low potassium, which can worsen chemotherapy cardiotoxicity. Early detection and management are crucial for patient safety.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Nephrology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Electrolyte imbalances are common in acute leukemia (AL) patients.
- These abnormalities can exacerbate cardiotoxicity from chemotherapy.
- A review of existing literature was conducted.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on electrolyte abnormalities in AL.
- To understand the interaction of these abnormalities with chemotherapy.
Main Methods:
- Literature search of MEDLINE and EMBASE databases.
- Keywords included 'acute leukemia', 'electrolyte abnormalities', 'acid-base disorders', 'potassium', 'sodium', 'magnesium', 'calcium', and 'phosphorus'.
- References of retrieved articles were also screened.
Main Results:
- Hypokalemia (low serum potassium) is a frequent and hazardous abnormality, often due to lysozyme-induced tubular damage.
- Other significant metabolic disturbances include hyponatremia (low serum sodium) and hypercalcemia (high serum calcium).
Conclusions:
- A wide range of electrolyte abnormalities occur in AL, stemming from the disease itself or its treatment.
- Clinicians must be vigilant for early detection and management of these disorders before and during chemotherapy.
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