OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety of polyethylene glycol conjugated L-asparaginase (PEG-Asp) for patients with adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and T cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (T-NHL).

METHODSA retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 101 young patients (≤40 years old) with ALL and T-NHL, diagnosed at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 2012 and June 2014.

RESULTSA total of 480 doses of PEG-Asp were administered in 44 cases with ALL and 57 patients with T-NHL. Only one patient (0.2%) experienced mild allergic reaction. Other grade 3 or 4 toxicities of non-hematologic effects included low level of fibrogen (6.4%), elevated ALT (4.4%), blood glucose (2.3%), and triglyceridemia (2.3%), decreased albumin (0.8%) and elevated amylase (0.2%). Furthermore, 5 cases (1.0%) developed venous thrombosis, 9 cases (1.9%) hemorrage, 1 patient (0.2%) non-necrosis pancretitis.

CONCLUSIONThe risk of allergic reaction incurred by PEG-Asp is very low. It can be used safely in ALL and T-NHL. Coagulation status should be monitored during the treatment.