Acute Myeloid Leukaemia Flashcards
What is the most common type of acute leukaemia in adults?
Acute myeloid leukaemia
When does acute myeloid leukaemia tend to present?
It can present at any age but normally middle age onwards
How can acute myeloid leukaemia occur?
As a primary disease
The result of a transformation of a myeloproliferative disorder
What are myeloproliferative disorders that can result in acute myeloid leukaemia?
Polycythaemia ruby vera
Myelofibrosis
What are the main features of acute myeloid leukaemia?
Bone marrow failure triad:
Anaemia
Thrombocytopenia
Infection because of neutropenia
What can anaemia cause?
Pallor
Lethargy
Weakness
What can thrombocytopenia cause?
Purpura
Mucosal membrane bleeding
What other features can present with acute myeloid leukaemia?
Splenomegaly
Bone pain
What is the diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia dependent on?
Bone marrow biopsy and a blood film
What might a blood film of someone with Acute myeloid leukaemia show?
A high proportion of blast cells
What do blast cells have?
Rods in their cytoplasm called Auer rods
What might a blood count of someone with acute myeloid leukaemia show?
Thrombocytopenia
Neutropenia
Anaemia
What is the management of acute myeloid leukaemia?
Chemotherapy and steroids
What is an alternative treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia?
Bone marrow transplant (allogenic stem cell transplant
What are some potential complications of chemotherapy?
- Failure
- Stunted growth and development in children
- Infections due to immunodeficiency
- Neurotoxicity
- Infertility
- Secondary malignancy
- Cardiotoxicity
- Tumour lysis syndrome
