Teresa Lam, David Chipps and Jenny E Gunton
Diabetic ketoacidosis is an unusual adverse event following chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Treatment of haematological malignancies with L-asparaginase has been associated with hyperglycaemia in 1-2% of patients. The concomitant use of glucocorticoids has an additional deleterious effect. We describe a case of diabetic ketoacidosis occurring in a 25 year old male following treatment with L-asparaginase and high dose dexamethasone. Insulin therapy was required only for the duration of treatment. Greater awareness of this adverse effect may reduce the significant morbidity associated with treatment for leukaemia.