Greenstein R, Nogeire C, Ohnuma T, Greenstein A
Cancer. 1979 Feb;43(2):718-22. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(197902)43:2<718::aid-cncr2820430247>3.0.co;2-r.
Asparaginase induced hemorrhagic pancreatitis is a rare but serious development occurring in less than 0.5% of patients treated with this drug. Severe pancreatitis with progressive abdominal distention, toxemia, hypotension and respiratory insufficiency occurred in an 18-year-old patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia following treatment with asparaginase. There was a dramatic response to high flow peritoneal lavage with rapid recovery within 24 hours from a moribund state. The subsequent development of a pseudocyst, with progressive increase in size and development of obstructive symptoms, required surgical decompression. Transgastric cystogastrostomy was successfully carried out.
