Effectiveness of Fractionated Rituximab in Preventing Tumor Lysis
Syndrome in Aggressive B-Cell Lymphoma: Insights from Real-Life Clinical
Practice
Abstract
Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a life-threatening condition caused by the
rapid destruction of malignant cells, leading to imbalances in
electrolytes and posing risks such as acute kidney injury, arrhythmia,
and seizures. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the incidence
of TLS in a cohort of 94 patients with advanced-stage aggressive B-cell
malignancies treated with fractionated rituximab, along with usual TLS
preemptive measures such as hyperhydration and urate-lowering
treatments. The study found that TLS occurred in seven patients, with
one case classified as clinical TLS (cTLS) and six as laboratory TLS
(lTLS). The incidence of TLS was higher in patients with Burkitt
lymphoma compared to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. TLS occurrence did
not significantly influence survival outcomes in this cohort. Comparison
with other datasets showed similar TLS rates in patients with high-grade
B-cell lymphoma. These findings contribute to the understanding of TLS
in B-cell malignancies, highlighting the potential of fractionated
rituximab as a debulking approach to manage TLS risk that warrants
further investigation in prospective trials.