Pancreatitis is a frequent toxicity to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment, significantly associated with asparaginase use, and may be followed by severe complications such as acute hyperglycaemia, need for mechanical ventilation, pseudocysts, and death.
A literature review was conducted, reviewing asparaginase and common toxicities, specifically hypersensitivity, pancreatitis, thrombosis, hyperbilirubinemia, and hyperglycemia..
The etiology for his hyperglycemia was most likely a result of oral glucocorticoid therapy combined with asparaginase therapy-both are a cornerstone of induction chemotherapy for ALL.