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Asparaginase-associated lipid abnormalities in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
S K Parsons1, S X Skapek, E J Neufeld
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Insights
Asparaginase therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children causes significant hypertriglyceridemia, but pancreatitis risk is lower than expected. Lipid abnormalities, particularly low HDL, persist in survivors.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Metabolic Disorders
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Asparaginase is a crucial chemotherapeutic agent for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
- Asparaginase therapy is associated with potential toxicities, including lipid abnormalities.
- The incidence and mechanisms of these lipid changes require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence and mechanisms of asparaginase-associated lipid abnormalities in children with ALL.
- To assess lipid profiles in newly diagnosed ALL patients during and after asparaginase therapy.
- To evaluate lipid profiles in long-term survivors of childhood ALL.
Main Methods:
- Serial fasting lipid and lipoprotein studies were conducted on 38 newly diagnosed ALL patients during and after asparaginase therapy.
- Lipid profiles were assessed once in 30 long-term childhood ALL survivors.
- Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of lipid subclasses and lipoprotein lipase activity were evaluated.
Main Results:
- Asparaginase therapy significantly increased triglyceride levels (mean peak 465 mg/dL vs. baseline 108 mg/dL).
- Sixty-seven percent of patients had hypertriglyceridemia during therapy; 42% had levels >400 mg/dL.
- Despite high triglyceride levels, pancreatitis was rare; it occurred more frequently in patients with normal triglyceride levels.
- Low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were observed in both patient groups and at all time points.
- Long-term survivors showed elevated cholesterol levels compared to norms.
Conclusions:
- Asparaginase therapy is strongly associated with transient hypertriglyceridemia in children with ALL.
- Lipid abnormalities, particularly low HDL, may persist in long-term survivors.
- Close monitoring for triglyceride elevation >2,000 mg/dL is recommended; modifications to asparaginase therapy are not currently indicated.
Abstract:
To further elucidate the incidence and potential mechanism of asparaginase-associated lipid abnormalities in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), we serially obtained fasting lipid and lipoprotein studies on 38 of the 43 consecutively diagnosed children with ALL before, during, and after asparaginase therapy. We also evaluated a second population of 30 long-term survivors of childhood ALL; a fasting lipid and lipoprotein profile was obtained once at study entry. The mean peak triglyceride level during asparaginase of 465 mg/dL (standard deviation [SD] 492) was significantly higher (P = .003) than the level of 108 mg/dL (SD 46) before the initiation of asparaginase therapy. Sixty-seven percent of the newly diagnosed patients had fasting triglyceride levels greater than 200 mg/dL during asparaginase therapy; 15 patients (42%) had levels greater than 400 mg/ dL, 7 with levels greater than 1,000 mg/dL. The incidence of hypertriglyceridemia did not vary by type of asparaginase or risk status of ALL (defined by white blood cell count and age). None of the 7 patients with triglyceride levels greater than 1,000 mg/dL developed pancreatitis. In contrast, 4 of the 13 patients without triglyceride elevation developed pancreatitis; 3 of the 4 patients had fasting studies at the height of their abdominal pain. Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of lipid subclasses showed a significant increase in the smaller, denser forms of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and negligible chylomicron fraction in a subset of patients with marked triglyceride elevation. Lipoprotein lipase activity was consistently above normative values for all levels of triglyceride and could not be explained by obesity or hyperglycemia. Apolipoprotein B(100) levels increased during asparaginase therapy, although the mechanism of this remains unclear. LDL reciprocally decreased with increased VLDL during asparaginase therapy. After asparaginase therapy, triglyceride levels (mean, 73 mg/dL [SD 33]) were significantly lower than levels obtained during asparaginase therapy. Triglyceride levels for survivors did not differ from the normal range or postasparaginase levels in the newly diagnosed patients. These data show a striking temporal association between asparaginase therapy and hypertriglyceridemia. Changes in cholesterol, in contrast, were not temporally related to asparaginase treatment. Cholesterol levels were elevated (>200 mg/dL) in 20% of the patients after asparaginase, which may be due to continued treatment with corticosteroids. The mean cholesterol level of long-term survivors of 177 mg/dL was significantly higher than the norm (P = .045). High-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were significantly lower than normal at all time periods and for both populations; 25% of survivors had HDL levels less than 35 mg/dL. We conclude that modifications in asparaginase therapy are not necessary. In cases of triglyceride elevation greater than 2,000 mg/dL when the risk of pancreatitis is increased, close clinical monitoring is imperative. Larger studies are needed to determine the incidence of dyslipidemia in long-term survivors of ALL as well as the relationship between lipid abnormalities and other late effects of treatment, notably obesity and cardiomyopathies.