title: Pegaspargase Induced Hypertriglyceridemia Resulting in Severe Fatal Pancreatitis.
abstract: Pegaspargase is used to treat acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). Pegaspargase definitely has its benefits in treating ALL; however we cannot lose sight of one of its very rare but potentially deadly complications, acute pancreatitis. Clinicians should monitor triglycerides while the patient is on treatment with Pegaspargase and suspect acute pancreatitis if the patient develops abdominal pain. If pancreatitis occurs, therapy should be stopped immediately and not reinstituted. For patients with hypertriglyceridemia without pancreatitis, discontinuation of therapy should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Elmhurst), 79-01 Broadway, Queens, NY 11373, USA.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vyas
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Elmhurst Hospital Center, 79-01 Broadway, Queens, NY 11373, USA.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ching Companioni
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Elmhurst Hospital Center, 79-01 Broadway, Queens, NY 11373, USA.
authors.forename: Melik
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tiba
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Elmhurst), 79-01 Broadway, Queens, NY 11373, USA.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alkhawam
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Elmhurst Hospital Center, 79-01 Broadway, Queens, NY 11373, USA.
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walfish