Contrasting Two Life-Threatening Syndromes With Similar-Sounding Acronyms: Capillary Leak Syndrome (CLS) and Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS)

Authors

Amandine P. Ndje, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterFollow
Jacqueline Broadway-Duren, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterFollow

Files

Description

Scientific acronyms help expedite communication but if misheard or misunderstood they can cause confusion and delay life-saving interventions. Such is the case with CRS, cytokine release syndrome and CLS, drug-induced capillary leak syndrome two life-threatening syndromes with similar-sounding acronyms. CRS occurs during a novel cancer treatment called chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, immunotherapy agents like blinatumomab, and haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and is an acute systemic life-threatening inflammatory response, of varied severity, characterized by fever, fatigue, headache, rash, diarrhea, arthralgia, myalgia, and organ dysfunction. Contrastingly, drug-induced CLS is a life-threatening disease characterized by capillary hyperpermeability that causes edema or anasarca, hypotension, hypoalbuminemia, and hemoconcentration, with non-specific signs and symptoms that lead to under-diagnosis. Furthermore, CLS may occur concurrently with CRS, while each may also happen concurrently with certain similarly-presenting diseases. Continued improvement of patient care is vital, therefore a contrastive analysis and figure are created to demystify the two syndromes, clear any confusion thus optimizing patient outcomes.

Publication Date

Fall 11-3-2024

Disciplines

Hematology | Oncology | Other Nursing

Recommended Citation

Ndje, Amandine P. and Broadway-Duren, Jacqueline, "Contrasting Two Life-Threatening Syndromes With Similar-Sounding Acronyms: Capillary Leak Syndrome (CLS) and Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS)" (2024). APRN Week 2024. 8.
https://openworks.mdanderson.org/aprn-week-24/8