ACUTE LEUKEMIA

EIYAS AL AKIEL
GROUP 2
DEFINETION
Leukemia's are the group of disorders
characterized by malignant transformation of
the blood forming cells. It may involve any of
the cell lines or a stem cell common to several
cell lines.
CLASSIFICATION

Leukemia’s are classified into 2 major groups

• Acute Onset is usually rapid, The disease is very
aggressive, The cells involved are usually poorly
differentiated with many blasts.
- Acute myelocytic leukemia – AML
- Acute lymphocytic leukemia – ALL 

• Chronic Onset is insidious, The disease is usually less

aggressive, The cells involved are usually more mature
cells
 ETIOLOGY
the exact cause is frequently not known, but
predisposing factors are known
• Host factors
Some individuals have an inherited increased
predisposition to develop leukemia
There is an increased incidence in those with an inherited
tendency for chromosome fragility or abnormality or
those with increased numbers of chromosomes (such as
Down’s syndrome).
Environmental factors:

Exposure to ionizing
radiation
Exposure to mutagenic
chemicals and drugs
Viral infections
RISK FACTORS
Gender
The primary types of leukemia (AML, ALL, CML, and CLL) are slightly
more common in males than females, but the reason for this is
unknown

Ethnicity
Racial differences in incidence differ between the types of leukemia.
ALL has the highest incidence in Hispanic whites, followed by non-
Hispanic whites and Asian and Pacific Islanders, with the lowest
incidence in blacks.

Immunosuppressed people
SYMPTOMS
DIAGNOSIS
INSPECTION
Skin and mucous membrane are pale, sometimes jaundice
Petechiae and hemorrhages
Tonsillitis with probable necrosis
Necrosis of skin may appear
PALPATION
Abdomen is soft, non-tender
Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck (axillary lymph nodes), armpit
(cervical lymph nodes), or groin
Liver and spleen are enlarged
Heart pulse is arrhythmic (fast)

PERCUSSION AUSCULTATION
Heart borders are enlarged Systolic murmurs may be heard
LABORATORY TEST
Signs of anemia, reticulocytpenia, thrombocytopenia
ESR is elevated
WBC variable
Immature blood cells presents in a peripheral smear which
very important test when considering the diagnosis of leukemia
Basophils and eosinophils aren't present
Accounts of blast cells determines the type
DIFFERENTIATION

Disease CBC Results Blood Smear Results

Acute Myelogenous Lower than normal Many immature white
Leukemia (AML) amounts of red cells cells, and sometimes
and platelets the presence of Auer
rods
Acute Lymphocytic Lower than normal Many immature white
Leukemia (ALL) amounts of red cells cells
and platelets