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Review
. 2022 Apr 1;44(3):e709-e712.
doi: 10.1097/MPH.0000000000002367.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in the Setting of Asparaginase-associated Pancreatitis in 2 Pediatric Patients With Acute Leukemia

Amanda Scheuermann  1 , Paul Harker-Murray  1 , Lauren Pommert  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in the Setting of Asparaginase-associated Pancreatitis in 2 Pediatric Patients With Acute Leukemia

Amanda Scheuermann et al. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. .

Abstract

Asparaginase, a critical component of current pediatric acute leukemia treatment protocols, is associated with a number of serious side effects, one of which is pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can result in significant morbidity and mortality from necrosis, pseudocyst formation, hemorrhage, systemic inflammation, intestinal perforation, and sepsis. Another rare complication of pancreatitis is posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, likely mediated by systemic inflammation secondary to pancreatic autodigestion and proinflammatory cytokine-mediated vascular endothelial damage. Here, we review this association in the literature and report 2 pediatric patients with leukemia who developed posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in the setting of asparaginase-associated pancreatitis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

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