Acute leukemia is a hematological malignancy with the extreme proliferation of white blood cells. Basically, the white blood cells – leukocytes – take on a kind of police function in the body. They destroy pathogens on the transport routes that the blood provides for them.
White blood cells are indicative of leukemia
There are three types of leukocytes in the body. The
- Lymphocytes originate from the bone marrow;
- Granulocytes come in eosinophilic, basophilic, and neutrophilic forms. The characteristic precursors form in the red bone marrow. Their lifespan is two days.
- Monocytes also originate in the red bone marrow. They absorb pathogens and render them harmless.
Physicians roughly differentiate between acute and chronic leukemia and further acute leukemia with their subdivision into myeloid and lymphatic leukemia.
Acute lymphocytic leukemia
In lymphatic leukemia, degenerated cancer cells form in the precursor cells of the lymphocytes. The lymphocytes are unable to defend themselves. The degenerated cells enter the bloodstream from the bone marrow, divide and multiply. Their rapid multiplication results in the crowding out of healthy lymphocytes and other blood cells produced in the bone marrow .
Leukemia is caused by a deficiency of red and white blood cells as well as platelets. The leukemia cells migrate through the body and infect other organs.
They damage the liver, spleen, kidneys, lymph nodes and meninges. Lymphatic acute leukemia is one of the most common cancers that occurs in childhood. Children aged one and five years and seniors aged 60 and over are affected.
Acute myeloid leukemia
This form of the disease develops from the immature progenitor cells of the granulocytes . As the disease progresses, the degenerated cells multiply, displace and disrupt the formation of solid components in the blood. Acute myeloid leukemia is one of the most common types in adult humans. The average age is 62 years.
Doctors see risk factors in Down syndrome, cytostatics and X-rays. The causes of the disease are currently largely unknown. One reason why some chemical substances are possible causes.
Acute leukemia and its causes
The reason why the changes occur in the progenitor cells of the lymphocytes and granulocytes is unknown. Doctors assume a number of changes that lead to acute leukemia. Chemical elements, X-rays and radioactive radiation increase the risk. The genetic predisposition of the individual also plays a role, for example if there is a chromosome disorder.
Acute leukemia , the symptoms and the course
Within a few weeks, the symptoms that precede acute leukemia develop. Patients complain of a flu-like feeling of illness, are exhausted and sweat profusely. Shortness of breath, looking pale and weakness appear due to the anemia. The tendency to bleed in the mucous membranes, rectum, skin and bladder is increased. The susceptibility to bacterial infections and fungal infections increases.
Acute leukemia spreads to internal organs as the disease progresses. This causes the lymph nodes to swell. The spleen is also affected, increasing its size. If cancer cells are present in the meninges, this manifests itself with headaches, sensitivity to light and vomiting. Visual disturbances and signs of paralysis in the face are common, as is pain in the bones of the legs and arms.
Diagnosis and therapy of acute leukemia
If acute leukemia is suspected, the doctor will carry out a blood test and examine the lymph nodes. With these measures, only the suspicion of the disease can be determined. For an exact diagnosis, the doctor removes bone marrow from the iliac crest.
The patient receives a local anesthetic before the puncture; Children usually a short anesthesia. Using the sample from the bone marrow, the doctor can see the number of degenerated cells under the microscope. The results of sonography, computer tomography and X-rays provide certainty about the presence of cancer cells in the internal organs. A lumbar puncture and examination of the cerebrospinal fluid shows whether the cancer cells have settled in the meninges.
Treatment of the patients requires a stay in a hospital that specializes in leukemia. The goal is to stop the cancer cells.
A lengthy treatment begins with induction chemotherapy . The purpose of the therapy is to push back detectable cancer cells so that leukemia cells are not detectable in either the bone marrow or the blood. This is followed by consolidation therapy. It is important to maintain the remissions achieved so far. Furthermore, this therapy provides for the destruction of previously undiscovered cancer cells. The maintenance therapy forms the end of the treatment. It lasts up to two years and includes intensive phases.
Sources
- LEUKEMIA Malignant cells accessed www.dkms.de
- Article on wikipedia.de further
-
Cancer: Leukemia and Other Apparently Incurable Diseases by Rudolf Breuss
