Chronic Granulocytic Leukemia Classification

Written by He Li Fang
Hematology
Updated on September 12, 2024
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Chronic granulocytic leukemia is a myeloproliferative tumor originating from pluripotent stem cells, characterized by the presence of the Philadelphia chromosome or changes in the BCR/ABL fusion gene. Chronic granulocytic leukemia progresses through four stages: asymptomatic, chronic, accelerated, and blast crisis phases. Most patients are diagnosed after the onset of symptoms. Only a very few patients are diagnosed through routine physical examinations or other reasons when blood abnormalities are discovered. The earliest symptoms experienced during the chronic phase of the illness typically include fatigue, dizziness, and abdominal discomfort. The accelerated phase is a transitional stage before the blast crisis, marking a turning point where the disease worsens. It is often difficult to distinctly separate the accelerated phase from the blast crisis, and about 20%-25% of patients may enter the blast crisis phase directly without passing through the accelerated phase.

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Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
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How is acute leukemia treated?

The treatment for acute leukemia is chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can be administered orally or intravenously, and the choice between oral or intravenous chemotherapy depends on the type of acute leukemia. For patients with acute leukemia, if chemotherapy alone can effectively control the disease or achieve a cure, then there is no need for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. However, if chemotherapy alone cannot control the disease, and the patient is considered at high risk and of suitable age, then allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation should be considered.

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Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
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Symptoms of Acute Leukemia

The common symptoms of acute leukemia include four main categories: infection, anemia, bleeding, and tumor infiltration. Symptoms of infection manifest as fever, cough, expectoration, chest pain, abdominal pain, diarrhea, frequent urination, urgent urination, painful urination, skin infections, and perianal infections. Anemia is characterized by dizziness, fatigue, poor appetite, and decreased endurance. Symptoms of reduced platelets mainly involve bleeding, which can manifest as bleeding of the skin and mucous membranes, organ bleeding, and even cerebral hemorrhage. Tumor infiltration can manifest as gingival hyperplasia and skin rashes among other swellings.

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Written by Zhang Xiao Le
Hematology
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Is a body temperature of 37.3 and feeling tired indicative of leukemia?

More than half of patients with acute leukemia present with fever as an early symptom, which can be low-grade or as high as 39~40°C or even higher. At the same time, some patients may experience fatigue due to anemia, but the presence of low-grade fever and fatigue does not necessarily indicate leukemia. If leukemia is suspected, further tests such as a complete blood count and peripheral blood smear examination are necessary. If the patient has abnormal white blood cells, combined with anemia and a reduction in platelets, and a large number of blast or early immature granulocytes are seen on the peripheral blood smear, leukemia should be highly suspected, and a further bone marrow biopsy examination is needed for a clear diagnosis. If the complete blood count and peripheral blood smear show no significant abnormalities, leukemia can generally be ruled out.

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Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
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What are the symptoms of leukemia?

The symptoms of leukemia mainly fall into four categories: infections, anemia, bleeding, and tumor infiltration. Infections occur because the proliferation of leukemia cells leads to a reduction in the patient's own granulocytes, lowering their resistance and possibly leading to various secondary infections such as respiratory, urinary system, and skin mucous membrane infections. Anemia is due to the proliferation of leukemia cells, which restricts normal erythropoiesis in the bone marrow, leading to symptoms in patients such as dizziness, headaches, fatigue, and decreased stamina. Bleeding occurs due to a decrease in platelets, posing a risk of spontaneous bleeding, which can include bleeding of the skin mucous membranes, organs, and even cerebral hemorrhage. Tumor infiltration by leukemia cells may manifest as tumor masses on the skin surface.

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Written by Li Fang Fang
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Symptoms of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

Most cases of chronic granulocytic leukemia are due to abnormal enlargement of the spleen, leading to abdominal distension and poor appetite. A small portion of chronic granulocytic leukemia cases show no obvious symptoms and are only discovered through routine physical examinations, finding an abnormal increase in white blood cells, leading to diagnosis and treatment in the hematology department. Common clinical symptoms of chronic granulocytic leukemia include an enlarged spleen. Additionally, some patients may also experience fatigue due to anemia, and a very few patients seek medical advice due to bleeding caused by a decrease in platelets.