types of leukemia | What types of leukemia exist?

What types of leukemia exist?




leukemia treatment

myelocytic leukemia

chronic leukemia | ¿Qué es leukemia lymphocítica crónica?
myelogenous leukemia
acute myelogenous leukemia
acute myeloblastic leukemia
chronic myeloid leukemia
what is leukemia
aml compliance
all leukemia
cml (Chronic myelogenous leukemia)
aml Leucemia mielógena aguda


Chronic myelogenous leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Find out more.

leukemia

Leukemia is a blood disease characterized by the abnormal production of white blood cells by the bone marrow. Depending on the speed of evolution of the disease we speak of acute leukemia (very fast process), while instead if we focus on the cells from which the disease originates, we distinguish between myeloid leukemia (which originates in myelocytes) and leukemia lymphoid (which originates in lymphoid cells). In this article we show you in detail the characteristics of the 4 types of leukemia that are known at present.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia

Also known as myelogenous leukemia, chronic granulocytic leukemia or CML, chronic myeloid leukemia is a blood tumor in which the marrow produces excess granulocytes, a type of white blood cells. The cells then begin to invade the bone marrow, preventing the rest of the blood cells from producing normally. This also interferes with the functioning of various organs.

The CML develops in three phases: an initial (also called chronic) in which the excess production of granulocytes is easily controlled, a second stage of acceleration in which it is more difficult to control the disease and a last phase (blast) in where the disease is transformed into acute myeloid leukemia (80% of cases) or lymphoid (20%), both with a not very positive prognosis. The good news is that thanks to the drugs that currently exist, the tyrosine kinase inhibitors, a certain stability can be achieved during the chronic phase.

Acute myeloid leukemia

It represents 40% of all leukemias in the Western world and it is estimated that only in our country affects 15 people out of a million every year. It is acute myeloid leukemia, also known as acute myelogenous leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia or LMA. It is the most common leukemia among adults. The average age of a person with this disease is 64 years. For this reason it is a disease that affects adults, especially if it can sometimes affect children. Only 20% of childhood leukaemias are of myeloid origin and generally have to do with certain chromosomal alterations such as Down syndrome or anemia de Fanconi (rare hereditary disease).

In acute myeloid leukemia, myeloblasts grow abnormally invading bone marrow and blocking the production of normal blood cells.

Chronic lymphatic leukemia

Let's say that under normal conditions the B and T lymphocytes have the function of fighting infections, or through the production of antibodies that attack the harmful elements that invade our body (B lymphocytes), or attack them directly (T lymphocytes). In the case of chronic lymphatic leukemia, the bone marrow and the organs of the lymphatic system produce excess B lymphocytes. In this way the B lymphocytes themselves infiltrate progressively in the bone marrow, in the lymphatic tissues and in other organs such as the liver. The consequence is that the normal blood components move preventing the proper functioning of the affected organs.Chronic lymphatic leukemia accounts for 20-40% of the total leukemia in the Western world. In our country, every year 30 new cases are diagnosed in one million inhabitants.

In general, chronic lymphatic leukemia, also known as LLC, mainly affects people with an average age of 60, presenting only exceptionally in children. It is a disease whose evolution occurs slowly and whose symptoms do not show up for many years. A fundamental fact? It is the only leukemia in which a large incidence has been described among the members of the same family (5%).

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia

If under normal conditions the lymphocytes (which are produced in the bone marrow and in other organs of the lymphatic system) are able to attack all types of agents or abnormal cells that are produced in our body, when we are affected by acute lymphoblastic leukemia these lymphoblasts ( precursors of lymphocytes) are generated in excess. What happens is that such immature lymphocytes invade the blood, bone marrow and lymphocyte tissues causing them to become inflamed. These can even invade other organs, such as the testicles or the central nervous system.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, is a disease that mainly affects children, although it is not difficult to manifest itself in adolescents.