The association of age and adverse events of PEG-asparaginase in a pediatric tertiary care hospital; a retrospective review.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Pediatric patients have a better survival rate for lymphoid malignancies than adolescents and young adult patients (AYA) and current evidence suggests that asparaginase plays a role in improved response to treatment. This study aimed to evaluate if increasing age as a continuous variable demonstrated increasing toxicities to PEG-asparaginase (PEG-ASP) for those patients treated at a tertiary care pediatric hospital.

METHODS:

A retrospective chart review from 2007 to 2017 was conducted in the pediatric population at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). Patients having received PEG-ASP were included. Event incidence and risk related to age at diagnosis were assessed through parameter estimates and Wald chi-square analysis.

RESULTS:

In total, 75 adverse events were observed: 34/186 (18.3%) experienced allergic reactions, 8/186 (4.3%) pancreatitis, 31/186 (16.7%) thrombosis, and 2/186 (1.1%) hemorrhage. One hundred and eighty two patients had complete information for inclusion in our model. A correlation between age at diagnosis and higher risk of allergic reaction (p < .001) and pancreatitis (p < .035) was observed.

CONCLUSION:

Allergic reaction and pancreatitis following administration of PEG-ASP have a higher risk of occurrence as age of diagnosis increases up to 18 years of age. This includes the lower limit of traditionally defined AYA population of 15-39 and warrants precaution as PEG-ASP is included in older populations treatment regimens at pediatric centers.

• Authors: Lesleigh Abbott, Maia Claveau, Ken Tang, Jameason Cameron, Genevieve Goulet
• Journal: European journal of haematology (Eur J Haematol) Vol. 110 Issue 1 Pg. 32-39 (Jan 2023) ISSN: 1600-0609 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 36151599 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2022 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Asparaginase
• pegaspargase
• Polyethylene Glycols

Topics

• Adolescent
• Child
• Humans
• Young Adult
• Antineoplastic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Asparaginase (adverse effects)
• Hypersensitivity
• Pancreatitis (chemically induced, epidemiology)
• Polyethylene Glycols (adverse effects)
• Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma (drug therapy, epidemiology)
• Retrospective Studies
• Tertiary Care Centers