Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is the phenomenon of metabolic derangements that typically follows the initiation of cytotoxic chemotherapy. Metabolic disturbances include hyperphosphatemia, hyperkalemia, hyperuricemia and hypocalcemia. Hematological malignancies are associated with spontaneous TLS (STLS), which is cell lysis in the absence of chemotherapy. STLS is extremely rare in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). This has been documented only once in the medical literature, making this an extraordinarily uncommon case. We present here a 68-year-old male with a history of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) who is admitted for a two-week history of abdominal pain and three days of anuria, despite adequate fluid intake. Laboratory values yielded a greatly elevated leukocyte count with a lymphocytic predominance and smudge cells. Potassium, phosphorus, and uric acid were also significantly increased. EKG revealed peaked T-waves. Flow cytometry confirmed the presence of an abnormal B-cell population consistent with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, with the following markers: CD19+, CD20+, CD23+, CD5+, CD10-. He was diagnosed with CLL and treated with aggressive fluid resuscitation, allopurinol and rasburicase. The patient had another similar episode within one month. His CLL fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) showed complex cytogenetics with unmutated IgVH and he was subsequently started on ibrutinib.
Keywords: benign prostatic hyperplasia; chronic lymphocytic leukemia; smudge cells; spontaneous tumor lysis syndrome; tumor lysis syndrome.
Copyright © 2020, Desai et al.