Acute Leukemia Research Paper

Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow, the spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are made. The word "acute" in acute myelogenous leukemia means the disease's rapid progression. It's called myelogenous leukemia because it affects a group of white blood cells called the myeloid cells, which normally develop into the various types of mature blood cells, such as erythocytes, leukocytes and thrombocytes. A myelocyte is a young cell of the granulocytic series, occurring normally in bone marrow, but not in the circulating blood . Acute myelogenous leukemia is also known as acute myeloid leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia and acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.(Mayo Clinic, 2010)
Patients are often sick only for days to weeks prior to seeking medical attention. Therefore, the diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia is made based on a compatible clinical history and a confirmatory laboratory investigation. A complete blood count (CBC) is almost always tested on patients. CBC always comes back abnormal, with leukemic cells often found in the peripheral circulation. Often, the total white blood cell count is elevated, and the red blood cell count is depressed (anemia) as is the platelet count (thrombocytopenia). (Cutler
The lack of white cells results in lowered immunity and a high likelihood of infections. A low platelet count may result in easy bruisability and spontaneous bleeding, and is treated with routine platelet transfusions. A decrease in the red cell count, termed anemia, may result in fatigue, shortness of breath, and lack of energy. Red cell transfusions are therefore used routinely. Consolidation involves giving repeated cycles of chemotherapy once the patient appears to be in remission. The purpose of consolidation chemotherapy is to eradicate any microscopic amounts of leukemia that are undetectable using standard diagnostic studies.Stem cell transplantation is used instead of consolidative chemotherapy in individuals with adverse prognostic features at the time of leukemic diagnosis. Stem cell transplantation is also used in an attempt to cure acute myeloid leukemia that has recurred after standard chemotherapy treatment.(Cutler