Acute myeloid leukemia of adults – Acute leukemia of adults nelimfoblastnyh – Acute myeloid leukemia of adults – OML – Onelli

Description of acute myeloid leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (OML) It is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. In AML, the bone marrow produces abnormal blood cells, including:

• Mieloblastov – white blood calf, designed to fight infections;
• Red blood cells (erythrocytes) – carry oxygen;
• Platelets – thicken the blood, stop bleeding in cuts or bruises places.

Acute myeloid leukemia begins in immature myeloblasts and progresses very quickly. It can go in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).

Cancer occurs, when body cells develop abnormally. Thus these abnormal cells become more and more. Leukemia – cancer of leukocytes and their parental cells. The leukemia cells usually do not perform their functions. In this case they can not fight against infections. It means, that a person with leukemia higher chances of infection by viruses or bacteria. Cancerous cells can also cause changes in the bone marrow. This mutation causes other blood components, Platelet. Platelets are needed for blood thickening, thrombus formation at the site of injury. People, patients with leukemia wounds can bleed profusely, It is causing a large loss of blood.

Causes of acute myeloid leukemia

The exact cause of acute myeloid leukemia is unknown. But, after smoking 60 years doubles the risk of this disease.

Risk factors

Factors, which increase the risk of acute myeloid leukemia:

• Paul: male;
• Smoking, particularly after 60 years;
• Previous chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment;
• Previous treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (OLL), Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, or other type of cancer;
• The impact of radiation on the body;
• Exposure to benzene or its derivatives;
• Hereditary blood disease, such as myelodysplastic syndrome (precancerous changes in leukocytes and bone marrow cells).

Symptoms of acute myeloid leukemia

They may also be caused by other, less serious diseases. Initial symptoms may include:

• Elevated temperature;
• Breathlessness;
• Paleness (sign anemia);
• Frequent bruising or bleeding trudnoostanavlivaemyh;
• Petechiae (small hemorrhages under the skin)
• Weakness;
• Fatigue;
• Loss of appetite;
• Weight loss;
• Pain in the bones;
• Joint pain;
• Enlarged liver and spleen;
• Swelling, pain and bleeding from the gums;
• Painless swelling in the neck, armpits, stomach, or groin.

Diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia

First conducted a physical inspection. The presence of tumors verified by the liver and spleen. Examines the lymph nodes in the armpits, in the groin, in the neck for the presence of tumors.

Further tests may include:

• Blood tests – checking for changes in the quantity or appearance of various types of blood cells;
• Bone marrow aspiration – selection of the sample liquid bone marrow, to check for cancer cells;
• Bone marrow biopsy – selection of the sample liquid bone marrow and a small part of the bone, to test for cancer cells;
• Spinnaya puncture – selection of a small amount of cerebrospinal fluid, to check for cancer cells;
• Microscopic examination – a study of the blood sample, bone marrow, lymph node tissue, or cerebrospinal fluid;
• Analyses of bones, bone marrow, lymph node tissue, or cerebrospinal fluid – to determine the types of leukemia;
• Cytogenetic analysis – analysis, to find certain changes in the chromosomes (genetic material) lymphocytes;
• Immunophenotyping – study of cell surface proteins, and antibodies produced by the body to distinguish from related lymphoblastic myeloid leukemia and determine the type of therapy;
• Chest X-ray – chest X-ray, which may detect signs of infection in the lung or breast cancer;
• Computed tomography - the type of X-ray, which uses computer, to make pictures of internal organs;
• MRT – test, which uses magnetic waves, to make pictures of structures in the body;
• Gallium scan and bone scan – injection of radioactive substances into the bloodstream, to discover the area of ​​cancer or infection;
• Ultrasound (US) – analysis, which uses sound waves, to examine body organs.

Once AML is identified, it can be assigned to one of eight subtypes. These are based on cell type, of which develops leukemia. Classification is very important. It helps to prescribe treatment for each subtype.

Treatment of acute myeloid leukemia

Treatment of AML typically includes two phases:

• Induktsionnaya therapy – to kill leukemia cells;
• Maintenance therapy – to kill any remaining leukemia cells, which can again grow and cause a relapse.

Treatment options include:

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy – the use of medicines, to kill cancer cells. It can be used in various forms. It includes pills, injection, as well as the administration of drugs through a catheter. The drugs enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body. Although their effect will focus on cancer cells, Some healthy cells are also killed.

Some types of acute myeloid leukemia may spread to the brain and spinal cord. In this case, It can be used intrathecal chemotherapy. At the same chemotherapy drugs injected directly into the spine.

Radiation (Radiation) therapy

Radiation therapy involves the use of radiation, to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. For AML uses external radiation therapy.

The radiation is directed at the tumor from outside. This type of treatment used to combat AML, that has spread, or it can spread to the brain and spinal cord. It can also be used to treat bone pain, suffered from leukemia.

Chemotherapy with stem cell transplant

Chemotherapy followed by stem cell transplantation (immature blood cells). They will replace blood-forming cells, destroyed by cancer treatment. Stem cells are selected from blood or bone marrow donor. Then they are introduced into a patient.

Other types of medical treatment

These preparations can be used to treat certain types of leukemia. They can kill leukemia cells, hinder their division, or help them turn into white blood cells:

• Trioxide mыshyyaka;
• All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) – tretinoin.

Biological Therapy

It – the use of drugs or substances, produced by the body. The substance is used, to increase or restore the body's natural defenses against cancer. This type of therapy is also called biological response modifier therapy. At the moment, biological therapy is still in the stage of clinical trials.

Side effects in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia

Patients suffer side effects not only on leukemia, and from therapy. They include:

• Reducing the number of red blood cells (anemia);
• Reducing the number of platelets, which help in blood clotting (thrombocytopenia);
• Reduction in the number of white blood cells, which fight infection.

Anemia can lead to fatigue. It can also aggravate respiratory disease, or heart disease. Thrombocytopenia may lead to bleeding and bruising. Reducing the number of white blood cells makes the patient more vulnerable to infection.

To reduce the side effects of drugs can be used. Besides, performed regular blood transfusions. They help, reduce the risk of fatigue, bleeding or infection.

Prevention of acute myeloid leukemia

In the majority of cases of AML occurred spontaneously, without any reason. Therefore, there is currently no way to prevent the disease. But, 20% the cases are related to smoking. Give up smoking – the best known way to prevent acute myeloid leukemia.