Tumor lysis syndrome - Medtick

Tumor lysis syndrome

What is it?

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a condition that happens when cancer cells die quickly, the kidneys can’t remove these substances from the blood quick enough and hence a large amount of electrolytes (salts) including potassium, phosphate, and uric acid are released into the blood.

  • It can also a decrease in calcium levels  in the blood.
  • Uric acid can be deposited in the joints, causing a painful gout -like condition.
  • A build up of uric acid in the kidneys can cause damage and kidney stones to form.
  • High phosphate levels can also damage the kidneys and lead to kidney failure.
  • Changes of  potassium and calcium levels can affect heart rhythm and lead to neurological changes such as weakness, irritability and confusion.

Tumour lysis syndrome usually occurs at the start of chemotherapy when a large number of tumour cells are destroyed.

  • It normally occur within a few hours of treatment, but it is most often seen 48–72 hours (2–3 days) after treatment starts.
  • It can become life-threatening if is not managed or treated.
This can be similar to Radiation sickness

Cause

  • Cancer in particular to look out for (they have a high white blood cell counts or where cancer cells are rapidly increasing):
    • Acute leukemia
    • Aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma
    • Burkitt’s lymphoma
    • Cancer disease of blood and bone marrow
    • Solid tumours i.e. as hepatoblastoma and stage IV neuroblastoma
    • Cancers that cause poor kidney function before treatment starts

Treatments

  • Normally occurs after chemotherapy (including local chemotherapy)/radiation therapy and/or cancer treatments

Medication

Symptoms

High Potassium levels

  • Abnormal heart beating , heart palpitations?

High Phosphate levels 

  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness?
  • Numbness and tingling around the mouth?
  • Pain, numbness, burning and tingling (pins and needles) sensation in one’s hands and fingers (thumb and/or index finger and/or middle finger and/or ring finger and/or small finger)?
  • Pain and/or numbness and/or tingling sensation in one or both legs and/or foot area?
  • Bone pain?
  • Joint pain and stiffness?
  • Low mood and Depression?
  • Confusion?
  • A new rash that has appeared or existing rash getting worse?
  • Skin very itchy?
  • Diarrhoea?
  • Nail changes:

High Uric acid levels 

  • Joint stiffness and pain?
  • Joint pain in hands and feet (particularly big toe)?
  • Flare up/attack of joint pain and inflammation?
  • Pain attack occur over 3 hours quickly last from 3 to 10 days and then go back to normal (pain free) and are unpredictable?
  • Inflamed (hot, red and swollen) joints?
  • Red and shiny skin over affected joints?
  • Peeling, itchy and flaky skin that affect joints?

Low calcium levels 

  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness?
  • Numbness and tingling around the mouth?
  • Pain, numbness, burning and tingling (pins and needles) sensation in one’s hands and fingers (thumb and/or index finger and/or middle finger and/or ring finger and/or small finger)?
  • Pain and/or numbness and/or tingling sensation in one or both legs and/or foot area?
  • Bone pain?
  • Joint pain and stiffness?
  • Low mood and Depression?
  • Confusion?

Other symptoms:

  • Nausea and Vomiting?
  • Diarrhea?
  • Fatigue?
  • Decreased urination?
  • irritated , anxiety and depressed?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency Condition

 And/or do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:

  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Breathing problems (Kussmaul breathing)
  • Delirium:
    • Problem with attention (This could mean the person is inattentive and does not focus or that he or she can focus on tasks but at the expense of all else — failure to shift attention.)
    • Disorganised thinking (such as not being able to remember things or being confused)
    • Altered level of consciousness (hyper-alertness and on edge, or sluggish, drowsy or withdrawn)
    • Change is sudden and/or does it fluctuate over hours or days
  • Hallucinations
  • Seizures

This condition can lead to:


This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Tumor lysis syndrome in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

  • NHS

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