Hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcemia accompanying rapid cell lysis in a patient with Burkitt's lymphoma and Burkitt cell leukemia

Hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia and acute oliguric renal failure resulting from uric acid nephropathy developed in a patient with Burkitt's lymphoma and Burkitt cell leukemia after effective chemotherapy. A review of other reported cases in which the patients had similar metabolic abnormalities is presented, and the pathophysiology is discussed. The clinical setting in which these metabolic developments are most likely to occur is defined, and an approach for their prevention and management is presented.