Leukemia, which arises from the replacement of normal blood cells with unripe leukocyte precursors, was termed acute myeloblastic leukemia. Although this pathology is rare, the disease progresses rapidly and is difficult to treat. The risk of injury increases with age.
Acute myeloblastic leukemia - causes
Precisely establish the factors that contribute to the mutation of cells in the bone marrow, at the moment it was not possible. Possible causes of this violation include:
- environmental pollution;
- irradiation with radiation;
- exposure to chemicals such as benzene and formalin;
- genetic congenital pathologies (Down's disease, Wesler-Fanconi anemia, Bloom's syndrome);
- a long overabundance in the body of cytotoxic medication.
Classification of acute myeloblastic leukemia
According to the generally accepted medical system, the disease under consideration is divided into the following subtypes:
- M0 - minimally differentiated non-lymphoblastic leukemia;
- acute myeloblastic leukemia M1 without characteristic signs of maturation;
- acute myeloblastic leukemia M2 with marked signs of maturation;
- promyelocytic leukemia M3;
- acute myeloblastic or myelomonocytic leukemia M4;
- myelomonocytic leukemia with a combination of bone marrow eosonophilia M4 (eo);
- acute monoblast leukemia M5a;
- acute monocytic leukemia M5b;
- erythrocyte acute leukemia M6a;
- pure erythroid acute leukemia M6b;
- acute megakaryoblastic leukemia M7;
- acute basophilic leukemia M8.
Acute myeloblastic leukemia - symptoms
At the very beginning of cell mutation, the disease does not manifest itself. After their excessive accumulation in bone marrow tissues, immature forms of leukocyte clones are carried by the bloodstream throughout the body and settle in the spleen, lymph node, liver and other organs.
The first stage of the disease is characterized by such signs:
- a decrease in the protective functions of immunity, as a result of which the patient is prone to frequent infections;
- weakness;
- slight increase in body temperature.
As the replacement of healthy cells of internal organs and mucous membranes with clones transformed by a mutation, the following symptoms are noted:
- meningitis ;
- pneumonia;
- pulmonary and gastrointestinal bleeding;
- acute complications of infectious diseases.
In the second stage, without adequate medical care, a person usually dies due to internal hemorrhages.
Most often, the above stages of cancer development alternate, so the prognosis for diagnosis of acute myeloblastic leukemia is more likely to be positive with timely therapy. Wavy pathogenesis of the disease makes it possible to identify it at early stages through laboratory tests of blood and the concentration of characteristic constituents in it.
Treatment of acute myeloblastic leukemia
Like other types of cancers, leukemia requires chemotherapy consisting of two main stages:
- elimination of cells that have undergone a genetic mutation;
- decrease in the number of clones in the tissues of the body.
Treatment is conducted by several courses with short breaks and simultaneous reception of medications that reduce inflammation. In addition, the recommended intake of vitamins, immunomodulators. Negative
One of the most effective ways of treating this type of blood cancer is bone marrow transplantation. This method involves the absolute replacement of dysfunctional tissue with a healthy one. Medical practice shows that more than half of patients in this case are cured completely.