Characteristics of early acute respiratory distress syndrome in newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia.

Acute respiratory complications occur frequently during the early phase of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) but information on the most severe form, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), is lacking. We retrospectively analyzed 280 patients with newly diagnosed AML in order to describe the incidence, risk factors and early mortality associated with ARDS within 15 d. Univariate and then multivariate analysis were performed. ARDS developed in 9% of patients and was associated with 64% day-30 mortality. White blood cell count on admission was an independent risk factor for ARDS (OR = 1.007, 95% CI = 1.001-1.012, p = .012) with a moderate prediction ability (AUC 0.704, p = .001). Other variables were associated with ARDS in univariate but not in multivariate analysis: body mass index (p = .06), transfusions (p = .001) and sepsis (p < .0001). Leukemia-specific complications and documented infections were the most frequent ARDS etiologies and were sometimes associated, with no clear distinctive temporal pattern.

Chest radiographic and CT findings in hyperleukocytic acute myeloid leukemia: A retrospective cohort study of 73 patients.

Hyperleukocytic acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with pulmonary complications and high early mortality rate, but given its rarity, data on chest radiographic presentation are scarce.We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 73 AML patients admitted with white blood cell count >100 × 10/L between 2003 and 2014 in order to describe the chest radiographic and computed tomography (CT) findings and to correlate them with AML subtype and respiratory symptoms.Forty-two of the 73 patients (58%) overall and 36 of the 54 patients (67%) with clinical signs of pulmonary leukostasis had abnormal radiographs on admission. The presence of radiographic abnormalities was significantly associated with dyspnea and oxygen/ventilatory support requirements (P < 0.01) and with day 28 mortality (45% vs 13%, P = 0.005) but not with monocytic subtype of AML. Sixteen patients had isolated focal basilar airspace opacities, unilateral (n = 13) or bilateral (n = 3), while 16 patients had bilateral diffuse opacities, interstitial (n = 12) or airspace and interstitial (n = 4). Two patients had isolated pleural effusion, 2 patients had unilateral midlung airspace opacities, and 6 patients had a combination of focal airspace and diffuse interstitial opacities. Overall, 2 patterns accounted for 75% of abnormal findings: bilateral diffuse opacities tended to be associated with monocytic AML, whereas basilar focal airspace opacities were more frequent in nonmonocytic AML (P < 0.05). Eighteen patients had CT scans, revealing interlobular septal thickening (n = 12), airspace (n = 11) and ground-glass (n = 9) opacities, pleural effusions (n = 12), and acute pulmonary embolism (n = 2).Hyperleukocytic AML is frequently associated with abnormal chest radiographs, involving mostly focal basilar airspace opacities (more frequent in nonmonocytic AML) or diffuse bilateral opacities. CT scan should be considered broadly due to the suboptimal resolution of radiographs for detecting signs of leukostasis.

Hypoxemia During Extreme Hyperleukocytosis: How Spurious?

BACKGROUND: Spurious hypoxemia has been described in case reports during extreme hyperleukocytosis and has led to recommendations for immediate cooling and analysis of arterial blood gases (ABGs). We sought to determine, in samples processed as recommended, the magnitude of spurious hypoxemia in acute leukemia subjects with hyperleukocytosis. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of all subjects admitted between 2003 and July 2014 for acute leukemia, who presented with white blood cell (WBC) count > 50 × 10(9) cells/L and had ABGs performed. For each ABG, we collected PaO2 , SaO2 , simultaneous WBC count, and SpO2 when available. Bland and Altman analysis was used to assess the agreement between SpO2 and SaO2 . RESULTS: One-hundred forty-six samples (from 45 subjects) were included, of which 57 samples (from 18 subjects) had data available for Bland and Altman analysis. Mean (SpO2 - SaO2 ) was 2.5%, and 95% CI for limits of agreement between SpO2 and SaO2 was (-10.1,15.1)%. The mean (SpO2 - SaO2 ) was significantly higher for WBC count > 100 × 10(9)/L as compared with WBC count < 100 × 10(9)/L (3.8% vs 0.4%, P = .04), and the 95% CIs for limits of agreement were (-10.3,18)% versus (-7.9,8.6)%. SpO2 and SaO2 were poorly correlated (r(2) = 0.19), whereas the difference (SpO2 - SaO2 ) was fairly correlated with WBC count (r(2) = 0.44). Overall, 11 of 19 samples with WBC count > 150 × 10(9)/L had PaO2 < 55 mm Hg whereas SpO2 was > 94%, the proportion being 5 of 62 samples for WBC count < 150 × 10(9)/L (P < .001). Three subjects with WBC count > 150 × 10(9)/L exhibited large SpO2 to SaO2 differences (10-20%) before leukapheresis, which decreased to below 5% afterward. CONCLUSIONS: In subjects with acute leukemia and hyperleukocytosis, despite cooling and quickly analyzing the samples, we observed poor correlation and agreement between SpO2 and SaO2 , unacceptably low for WBC count > 100 × 10(9)/L. Our results suggest that current guidelines may not totally prevent the diagnosis of spurious hypoxemia.

Initial respiratory status in hyperleukocytic acute myeloid leukemia: prognostic significance and effect of leukapheresis.

This study investigated whether initial respiratory status in hyperleukocytic acute myeloid leukemia (AML), as defined by oxygen/ventilatory support, is (1) associated with early mortality and overall survival and (2) improved after leukapheresis. A retrospective chart review of 89 patients requiring leukapheresis was performed. White blood cell count (WBC) decreased from 153 (56-475) × 10(9)/L to 60 (17-259) × 10(9)/L after first leukapheresis (p < 0.01). Initial respiratory status was room air (n = 40), low (n = 31) or high flow oxygen therapy (n = 8) or mechanical ventilation (n = 10). As compared to admission, respiratory status significantly deteriorated after both first and second leukapheresis (p < 0.01) and was not different at day 5 for patients still alive (p = 0.131). Both day 28 mortality and overall survival were significantly affected by initial respiratory status (p < 0.01). Despite being effective in reducing WBC, leukapheresis did not improve respiratory status of hyperleukocytic AML patients, a factor strongly associated with survival.