Acquired Hypofibrinogenemia Before Asparaginase Exposure During Induction Therapy for Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Report of 2 Cases and Review of the Literature

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2018 Oct;40(7):e470-e472. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0000000000001114.

Abstract

Coagulopathy in pediatric leukemia patients is typically associated with acute promyelocytic leukemia or after asparaginase use in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Rarely seen in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, we report 2 patients who presented with normal coagulation markers, but subsequently developed severe hypofibrinogenemia and bleeding in induction before administration of asparaginase. In both cases, cryoprecipitate was administered as initial treatment for bleeding associated with the hypofibrinogenemia. One patient was refractory to cryoprecipitate replacement and required treatment with human fibrinogen concentrate due to the persistence of hypofibrinogenemia with significant bleeding. The hypofibrinogenemia was transient in both cases and resolved within a few weeks.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Afibrinogenemia / etiology*
  • Asparaginase / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Factor VIII / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Fibrinogen / therapeutic use
  • Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Hemorrhage / therapy
  • Humans
  • Induction Chemotherapy / adverse effects*
  • Induction Chemotherapy / methods
  • Male
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / complications*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • cryoprecipitate coagulum
  • Factor VIII
  • Fibrinogen
  • Asparaginase