Question

explain in details the causes, signs and symptoms, pathophysiology , diagnosis process and different treatment strategies of leukaemia?

Answer 1

Leukemia
Leukemia is a type of blood cancer,they are caused by increase in the number of white blood cells in the body. There are mainly four types of leukemia,they are
Acute lymphocytic leukemia
Acute myelogenous leukemia
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Chronic myelogenous leukemia
Acute lymphocytic leukemia
It is the common childhood leukemia. It can be spread to the lymph nodes and central nervous system.
Acute myelogenous leukemia
It is the second common form of childhood leukemia and it is also common in adults.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
It is the another one form of adult leukemia. In certain cases, it will be stable for many years and they doesn't need treatment.
Chronic myelogenous leukemia
In this they have no noticeable symptoms. It does not be diagnosed with the routine blood sampling test. In this type patient with age above 65 have high risk.

Causes of leukemia
The causes of leukemia are not known. But they have so many risk factors which trigger the leukemia. Such factors includes
Family history of leukemia
Smoking is the another one factor, smoking increase the risk of acute myeloid leukemia
Genetic disorders like down syndrome causes leukemia
Blood disorders like myelodysplastic syndrome which is otherways known as preleukemia.
Chemotherapy or radiation therapy causes leukemia
Exposure of high level of radiation which causes leukemia
Exposure of some chemicals like benzene.

Signs and symptoms of leukemia
There are different types of leukemia,each can cause different problems. In certain cases signs are seen at the early stages. The main symptoms include,
Weakness or fatigue
Fever or chill
Infections
Bleeding
Pain in the bones and joints
Headache and vomiting
Weight loss
Seizure
Night sweat
Breathlessness
Swelling of lymph nodes and spleen

Pathophysiology of leukemia
In somany malignancies, the main aetiology of childhood leukemia become not clear. It is a multifactorial condition with infection, genetic predisposition and somany environmental exposure are the potential problems in the development of leukemia.
Disturbance in the regulation and proliferation of lymphoid precursor cells present in the bone marrow leads to the excessive production of immature blast cells. And they cause reduction in the number of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
In childrens with certain genetic diagnoses like trisomy 21 are called to be at high risk of leukemia.

Diagnosis process
The leukemia are diagnosed by following methods
Blood test
complete blood count means number and maturity of different blood cells. When observe the blood smear it look like immature or unusual cells.
Bone marrow biopsy
When the bone marrow taking from the pelvic bone by using a long needle. In this we can diagnose which type of leukemia and how severe it is.
Spinal tap
In this we can use the fluid from the spinal cord. In this which type of leukemia is seen.
Imaging tests
Here we can use CT, MRI, and PET scans are identified the signs of leukemia.

Treatment strategies of leukemia
The treatment strategies are vary according to which type of leukemia it is. Various treatment methods are used, they includes
Chemotherapy
Radiation therapy
Biologic therapy
Targeted therapy
Stem cell transplant
Surgery
Chemotherapy
In chemotherapy, kills the cancer cells by using drugs. They are either used as a pill or through a shot into a vein or muscle or into the fluid around spinal cord.
Radiation
Here the cancer cells are killed by using high energy X-rays.
Biologic therapy
It is otherways known as immunotherapy. It helps to find the immune system and they can attack the cancer cells. Certain drugs such as interferons and interleukin which will increase the natural defence against leukemia.
Targeted therapy
Certain drugs are used ,which will block the specific gene or protein helping for the growth of cancer cells. This method will stop the growing and dividing of cancer cells and they will kill them directly.
Stem cell transplant
In this transplant the leukemic cell into a new stem cell. Here first chemotherapy is done, then the transplantation will do. The stem cells are infused into the vein, they will grow into new and healthy blood cell.
Surgery
In surgery, the cancer cells are filled in the spleen, they will remove the spleen and pressing the nearby organs. This method is known as splenectomy.