Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis caused by pegasparaginase: a clinical analysis of 8 cases / 中华神经医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the risk factors and prognoses of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) caused by pegasparaginase (PEG-Asp).Methods:A total of 252 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were treated with PEG-Asp chemotherapy in our hospital from December 2016 to July 2021, including 8 children with CVST. The clinical manifestations, laboratory and imaging features, treatments and prognoses of these children with CVST caused by PEG-Asp were analyzed retrospectively.Results:(1) CVST occurred during induction chemotherapy in 4 children, during re-induction chemotherapy in 3 children, and during consolidation stage in one child. CVST occurred in two children who received PEG-ASP chemotherapy once, in one child who received PEG-Asp chemotherapy twice, and 5 children who received PEG-Asp chemotherapy more than twice. The median time between CVST occurrence and last treatment of PEG-Asp was 20.5 d. (2) The clinical manifestations included paroxysmal headache ( n=4), nausea or vomiting ( n=3), convulsions ( n=2) and persistent blurred vision ( n=1). (3) CVST appeared at the sigmoid sinus ( n=6), transverse sinus ( n=4) and superior sagittal sinus ( n=4), of which one child was complicated with hemorrhage in left frontal parietal and right parietal cortex, and one with reversible posterior encephalopathy syndrome; 8 children were not complicated with thrombus in other parts. (4) Some of the children were complicated with abnormal blood coagulation. When CVST occurred, fibrinogen level decreased in 3 children, anti-thrombin III level decreased in 2 children, and D-dimer level increased in 3 children. (5) Six children were treated with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), of which, 4 were treated with rivasaban and one with warfarin sequentially. The total course of anticoagulation was 56 d. (6) The symptoms of 6 children disappeared after anticoagulation; Magnetic resonance venography (MRV) showed disappeared thrombus in 4 children and reduced thrombus range in 2 children. One child with intracranial hemorrhage did not use PEG-Asp anymore; 7 accepted PEG-Asp further during follow-up chemotherapy, of which one had CVST recurrence and the range of thrombus was reduced after anticoagulant therapy. Conclusions:When children with ALL develop unexplained neurological symptoms during PEG-Asp chemotherapy, CVST should be highly vigilant. Enhanced MRI and MRV should be performed for early diagnosis. Some children are complicated with abnormal blood coagulation, and LMWH, warfarin and rivasaban are effective. The prognosis is good and there are no sequelae. Most children accepted PEG-Asp again will not have CVST again.