title: Relationship between modified CT severity index and clinical features of L-asparaginase-associated pancreatitis in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe clinical and CT features of L-asparaginase-associated pancreatitis (L-AP) and to correlate CT grades with clinical parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 16 children (M:F = 9:7; mean age, 8.1 years) who developed L-AP after L-asparaginase (L-asp) treatment and underwent abdominal CT scan were included. We retrospectively reviewed clinical data (age, sex, signs, and symptoms related to pancreatic toxicity and its complications, the number of L-asp doses receiving before L-AP); laboratory test results (serum amylase, lipase, C-reactive protein (CRP), calcium, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glucose, and serum albumin); and clinical course (the number of days of hospitalization, number of NPO days, use of nasogastric tube, intravenous (IV) narcotics, total parenteral nutrition (TPN) or any surgical intervention). We also reviewed CT images and modified CT severity index (MCSI) for grading the severity of AP and classified to three groups (mild, moderate, and severe) or two groups (low and high score) according to MCSI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  L-AP typically occurred early in the course of therapy. Use of IV narcotics (P = .014) and peak amylase (P = .009) showed a significant difference between mild and severe L-AP groups according to MCSI. Between the low and high score groups, Use of IV narcotics (P = .046), BUN (P = .039), and peak amylase level (P = .013) was significantly different. However, the L-asp dose, hospital day, and other clinical date associated with prognosis did not show any significant difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In L-AP with pediatric ALL patients, MCSI may correlate with usage of IV narcotics, BUN, and peak amylase levels.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Radiology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeon Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Soo Ah
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Jae Wook
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Nak Gyun
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001215:Asparaginase / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001215:Asparaginase
keywords: L-asparaginase; acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL); computed tomography; pancreatitis