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Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells that spreads throughout the bloodstream and may affect many organs. It originates in the bone marrow (spongy center of bones), which is where all blood cells are developed before being released into the bloodstream. Leukemia is classified based on the type of abnormal white blood cell and by how rapidly these cells leave the bone marrow and enter the bloodstream. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common type of leukemia that affects adults. The June 10, 2009, issue of JAMA contains an article on allogeneic (from a healthy donor other than an identical twin) stem cell transplantation as a treatment for AML.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- Excessive fatigue
- Fevers with night sweats
- Recurrent infections
- Swollen or bleeding gums
- Loss of appetite
- Enlarged liver or spleen
- Easy bruising
- Bone or joint pain
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
- Complete medical history and physical examination
- Blood tests
- Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy (taken with a needle, usually from the hip)
- Chest x-ray
- Echocardiogram (ultrasound) of the heart
TREATMENT
Determined by:
- The age of the patient and differs for those younger than 60 compared to those older than 60
- Whether they have received prior chemotherapy
- Whether they have other medical problems
Treatment is carried out in 2 phases:
- Induction uses chemotherapy to induce remission (normal-appearing blood and bone marrow)
- Consolidation therapy is used to achieve a long-lasting remission. The type of treatment offered in this phase depends on the response to the treatment used in the induction phase.
Consolidation therapy options include:
- High-dose chemotherapy
- Stem cell transplant from the patient himself or herself in remission (autologous) or from an identical twin (syngenic)
- Allogeneic stem cell transplant
- Investigational (within a clinical trial) therapy
FOR MORE INFORMATION
INFORM YOURSELF
To find this and other JAMA Patient pages, go to the Patient Page link on JAMA's Web site at http://www.jama.com. Many are available in English and Spanish. A Patient Page on acute lymphoblastic leukemia was published in the January 28, 2009, issue and one on cancer clinical trials was published in the June 9, 2004, issue.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Cancer Institute
The JAMA Patient Page is a public service of JAMA. The information and recommendations appearing on this page are appropriate in most instances, but they are not a substitute for medical diagnosis. For specific information concerning your personal medical condition, JAMA suggests that you consult your physician. This page may be photocopied noncommercially by physicians and other health care professionals to share with patients. To purchase bulk reprints, call 312/464-0776.
TOPIC: BLOOD DISEASES
Carolyn J. Hildreth, MD, Writer;
Cassio Lynm, MA, Illustrator;
Richard M. Glass, MD, Editor
JAMA. 2009;301(22):2402.
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RELATED ARTICLE
Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation for Acute Myeloid Leukemia in First Complete Remission: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Prospective Clinical Trials
John Koreth, Richard Schlenk, Kenneth J. Kopecky, Sumihisa Honda, Jorge Sierra, Benjamin J. Djulbegovic, Martha Wadleigh, Daniel J. DeAngelo, Richard M. Stone, Hisashi Sakamaki, Frederick R. Appelbaum, Hartmut Döhner, Joseph H. Antin, Robert J. Soiffer, and Corey Cutler
JAMA. 2009;301(22):2349-2361.
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