Leukemia is a cancer that proliferates abnormal bone marrow cells that later enters the blood. If the abnormal cells are myeloid the disease is myeloid leukemia which may be chronic (CML Leukemia) or acute (AML Leukemia). If the lymphatic cells are affected the leukemia is called lymphoid leukemia which may also be acute (ALL Leukemia) or chronic (CLL Leukemia).APL Leukemia (acute promyelocytic leukemia) is a type of AML Leukemia.

What is AML Leukemia?

Acute myelogenous leukemia progresses fast. If not treated quickly it can prove fatal.AML begins in the stem cells of the bone marrow that would grow into white blood cells other than lymphocytes, red blood cells or platelet forming cells (early forms of myeloid cells).From the bone marrow it spreads to the blood and then to other body parts such as the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, testes, spinal cord and brain.

Signs and Symptoms

Acute AML leukemia causes anemia due to decline in red blood cells as well as fatigue, breathlessness and paleness. The patient suffers infections frequently with or without fever due to lack enough white blood cells to fight diseases. The condition of Thrombocytopenia (low platelet level) causes bleeding and bruising quickly and skin rashes. Enlarged spleen and liver cause a feel of fullness and abdominal swelling. Bone and joint pain are felt. Leukemia cutis or chloromas which are painless purple spots on the eye, neck, underarm and stomach are signs of AML.

Diagnosis

A physical examination reveals swelling of lymph nodes, neck, spleen, groin and arm pits. A complete blood count test helps find abnormalities. A biopsy is done to extract and test some bone marrow to find the leukemia type. Immunophenotyping and peroxi-dase stains studies will help to diagnose the AML subtype.Cytogenetics-a chromosome test is also done.

Treatment

The first phase of AML treatment is Induction chemotherapy. Medications include daunorubicin chemotherapy and ARA-C.Supportive care such as antibiotics, anti nausea medication, anti diarhheals, eye drops for stopping irritation, nutritive beverages and transfusions are also given to the patient. While transfusions keep the blood count normal antibiotics help fight infections. G-CSF (Neupogen) is administered to raise white blood cells count. At the end of this therapy remission levels are checked with a bone marrow biopsy. The second treatment cycle is consolidation chemotherapy. It includes intensive chemotherapy. Bone marrow transplant may be made from the patient’s own bone marrow (autologous transplant) or from a donor’s bone marrow (allogeneic transplant). Chemotherapy drug provided is drug ARA-C (cytarabine).Supportive care is required.

Prognosis

The 5 year survival rate for AML child patients in the US is around 30%.Ratio of AML related deaths to AML incidence is 75% approximately.Complications of AML include death and diseases like disseminated intravascular coagulation, Neutrophilia, Hypokalaemia, Neutrophil Nuclear Hyper segmentation and Megaloblastic anemia.

Prevention

There are no known means of preventing AML leukemia. By quitting smoking and avoiding cancer creating industrial chemicals like benzene one can reduce the risk of getting AML leukemia. Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation also cause AML leukemia.

It is important to consult a physician at the sight of early symptoms for better chances of remission and favorable prognosis.