Abstract
A total of 548 patients (age range: 1–22 years, 60.4% Hispanic, 55.8% male) diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were reviewed for pegaspargase-associated hypersensitivity (14.8%), hyperbilirubinemia (9.7%), venous thromboembolism (VTE, 9.7%), and pancreatitis (5.3%). Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) evaluated associations between clinical factors and each toxicity, cumulative number of toxicities, and toxicity clusters identified using k-mode analysis. Most (68.9%) did not experience any toxicity, 24.6% experienced one toxicity, and 6.3% two or more. Age >10 years was associated with hyperbilirubinemia (OR = 3.83; 95% CI: 1.64–8.95), pancreatitis (OR = 3.72; 95% CI: 1.29–10.68), VTE (OR = 4.65; 95% CI: 1.96–11.02), and cumulative toxicity burden (OR = 3.28, 95% CI: 1.97–5.47); high-risk therapy with hypersensitivity (OR 2.25; 95% CI 1.25–4.05); and overweight with cumulative toxicity burden (OR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.20–2.57). Eight unique toxicity profiles were identified. Older age, overweight, and treatment intensity contribute to pegaspargase-associated toxicities.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Data availability statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.