blood disorders
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Introduction
Acute myeloid leukemia is a life-threatening disease in which the cells that normally develop into the types of White Blood Cells called neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, and monocytes become cancerous and rapidly replace normal cells in the bone marrow. People may be tired or pale, may be easily susceptible to infection and fever, and may bruise or bleed easily. Blood tests and bone marrow examination are needed for diagnosis. Treatment includes chemotherapy to achieve remission plus additional chemotherapy to avoid relapse and sometimes stem cell transplantation. (See also Overview of Leukemia .) Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common type of Overview of Leukemia among adults, although it affects people of all ages. AML sometimes is caused by chemotherapy or radiation therapy given to treat another cancer. In AML, immature leukemia cells rapidly accumulate in the bone marrow, destroying and replacing cells that produce normal blood cells including one or more of the following: Red Blood Cells , which carry oxygen in the bloodstream White Blood Cells , which help defend the body against infection White Blood Cells , small cell-like particles that help in the clotting process Cancerous white blood cells do not function like normal white blood cells. So even though the person seems to have more white blood cells, they have fewer normal white blood cells and thus have trouble fighting off infections. The leukemia cells also are released into the bloodstream and are transported to other organs, where they continue to grow and divide. There are several subtypes of AML, which are identified based on characteristics of the leukemia cells. Acute promyelocytic leukemiais an important subtype of AML. In this subtype, chromosomal changes in promyelocytes—cells that are at an early stage in the development into mature neutrophils—allow accumulation of these immature cells. Acute promyelocytic leukemia affects a younger age group (median age 31 years) and particular ethnicity (Hispanic people). 