What is leukemia?

Written by He Li Fang
Hematology
Updated on September 03, 2024
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Leukemia is a malignant tumor of the hematopoietic system that originates from hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. It involves leukemia cells that have proliferative and survival advantages, proliferating and accumulating uncontrollably in the body, gradually replacing normal hematopoiesis to form pathological hematopoiesis. Furthermore, it invades other organs and systems, leading to symptoms such as anemia, bleeding, and infections, which eventually cause death. The incidence of leukemia is 4.8/100000-7.1/100000 in males and 3.2/100000-4.6/100000 in females, with significant variations in incidence, mortality rates, and distribution among different types of leukemia and various regions and ethnic groups. Early on, it was recognized that leukemia is not an inflammation, and the views that leukemia is caused by a lack of certain substances have been proven incorrect. Currently, it is understood that the causative factors of leukemia are related to infections, radiation, chemical agents, lifestyle, and genetics.

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chronic granulocytic leukemia platelets

Patients with chronic granulocytic leukemia have variations in blood platelets as seen in routine blood tests, which differ according to different stages of the disease. In the chronic phase, especially early on, platelet counts are mostly elevated or normal, with increases potentially exceeding 1000x10^9 per liter. The shape of the platelets is normal, but their function is often abnormal, with thrombus formation being rare. A minority of patients may experience a decrease in platelet count. As the disease progresses, routine blood tests can reveal significant decreases or increases in platelet counts along with the appearance of megakaryocytes. Additionally, some patients may also exhibit bone marrow fibrosis, characterized by an increase in reticular fibers or collagen fibers.

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Is acute leukemia contagious?

Acute leukemia is not a contagious disease, so it is not transmissible. Acute leukemia is a malignant tumor disease of the hematopoietic system. The causes of this disease are still not very clear, however, some known inducers include exposure to radiation, contact with chemotherapy drugs, and contact with benzene-containing chemicals. The genetic factors of acute leukemia are also not significant, so children usually do not have a genetic predisposition if their parents suffer from acute leukemia.

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Can leukemia be cured?

Some types of leukemia can be cured. Leukemia is divided into acute leukemia and chronic leukemia. Among acute leukemias, acute promyelocytic leukemia has a better prognosis, and most patients can achieve a cure through chemotherapy. In addition to acute promyelocytic leukemia, the prognosis of MRB and MCEO types of acute leukemia is also relatively good. Patients with low-risk can potentially be cured through chemotherapy. In chronic leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia currently has oral targeted medications available, such as imatinib, and most patients with this category of disease can also achieve clinical cure through oral chemotherapy medications. (Specific medications should be taken under the guidance of a physician.)

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Hematology
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Does leukemia cause vomiting?

Leukemia can cause vomiting. There are two reasons why leukemia patients experience vomiting: one is caused by the leukemia itself. If the white blood cell count in leukemia patients abnormally increases to more than 100×10^9/L, this condition is called hyperleukocytosis. In the state of hyperleukocytosis, the body is in a state of ischemia and hypoxia, which can manifest as dizziness, headache, and vomiting in the nervous system. The other reason is that during chemotherapy, the use of chemotherapy drugs can lead to gastrointestinal reactions such as nausea and vomiting.

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Hematology
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How to test for leukemia?

Patients with leukemia should first undergo a routine blood test. Some leukemia patients' routine blood tests may indicate leukemia, such as when white blood cell counts are abnormally high, exceeding 50*10^9/L, and can even reach more than 100*10^9/L, which highly suggests leukemia. At this point, bone marrow biopsy, bone marrow immunotyping, and chromosome tests are needed to further clarify the type of leukemia. In addition, risk stratification in leukemia patients is also necessary through genetic mutations and chromosome analysis.