English

Abstract

BACKGROUND Rasburicase (recombinant urate oxidase) has been proven to be an effective therapy for prevention of tumour lysis syndrome (TLS). The recommended daily dosing regimen of rasburicase is 0.2 mg/kg/day for 5 days which is expensive and unaffordable to many patients in the developing countries. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of single 1.5 mg dose rasburicase in the management of tumour lysis syndrome. METHODS This is a follow-up study done at our institute. Fifty (50) patients with tumour lysis syndrome who received rasburicase from August 2015 to January 2020 were enrolled in this study RESULTS Single dose of rasburicase is effective in decreasing serum uric acid level in significant number (N = 41) of patients. Percentage of patients having uric acid less than 7 mg after single dose of rasburicase in 48 hours - 82.9 % (N = 34) while 17 % (N = 7) were found to have uric acid levels of more than 7 mg/dl. The percentage of patients with uric acid levels more than 7 mg/dl reduced from 36.5 % after 24 hours to 17 % after 48 hours. This indicates that the uric acid levels show a declining trend even after 24 hours without giving an additional dose of rasburicase. There was no relationship between uric acid levels at 24 hours and percentage change in creatinine level from baseline to 24 hours (correlation coefficient (r) = -0.047, P = 0.770. Patients who required additional dose (N = 9) had high base line value of uric acid and their high value was maintained over the follow up period of three days. Patients with pre exiting kidney disease and high level of baseline uric acid also needed dialysis (N = 3). CONCLUSIONS In majority of patients, a single 1.5 mg dose of rasburicase is an effective way to reduce raised uric acid in appropriate circumstances. KEYWORDS Single Dose, Recombinant Urate Oxidase, Uric Acid, Leukemia, Tumour Lysis Syndrome, Rasburicase