Coagulopathy, Hypoxemia, and Mortality Outcomes in Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia with Hyperleukocytosis Treated with Large Volume Leukapheresis

Background: Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) presenting with hyperleukocytosis have frequent complications and early mortality. Pulmonary, central nervous system, and cardiovascular complications are common. Attempts to improve outcomes in the 10% of AML patients arriving with hyperleukocytosis have included leukapheresis. No prospective randomized study has supported the use of leukapheresis, and retrospective reports have revealed persistently poor outcomes as well as emerging concerns of acquired coagulopathy and worsening hypoxemia after leukapheresis. While many centers use a leukapheresis protocol processing two blood volumes, Johns Hopkins protocol routinely processes three-five blood volumes. This study aimed to assess coagulopathy, hypoxemia, and mortality with large volume leukapheresis. Methods: 32 patients with newly diagnosed AML treated with large volume leukapheresis for WBC depletion are included in this report. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and apheresis-related data were collected. Coagulopathy and hypoxemia-related metrics were evaluated within 6 hours before leukapheresis and within 6 hours of completion of leukapheresis. Descriptive and inferential statistics (chi square and Mann-Whitney U test) were used to compare pre and post-leukapheresis findings and assess clinical outcomes. Results: Twenty-nine of 32 (93.8%) patients presented with symptomatic leukostasis (with pulmonary and/or CNS symptoms in 26/29). Median blood volume processed was 14.8 liters (range 4-23.4L). Mean platelet count decreased from 60x109/L to 37x109/L after leukapheresis (p