24 November 2024

Leukemia

Leukemia is a type of blood cancer where the body produces an excessive amount of abnormal white blood cells, also known as leukocytes.

Factors suspected to influence the frequency of leukemia occurrence:

1. Radiation
   In fact, leukemia is often found in individuals who are frequently exposed to radiation-emitting devices.

2. Leukemogenic
   This factor is related to chemicals, high-level exposure to environmental toxins such as benzene, and industrial chemicals like insecticides and formaldehyde.

3. Hereditary
   People with Down syndrome may have an increased risk of leukemia, with the incidence of acute leukemia being 20 times higher than in normal individuals.

4. Virus
   Several viruses are known to be factors in the development of blood cancer, including retroviruses, feline leukemia virus, and HTLV-1 in adults.

Types of Leukemia:

1. Acute Leukemia
   Acute leukemia is characterized by a very rapid, fatal, and worsening disease course.
   There are two subtypes of acute leukemia classified by the type of cell, including:
     - Lymphoblastic (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia/ALL): A type of leukemia that affects 75% of children aged 3-4 years.
     - Myeloblastic (Acute Myeloid Leukemia/AML): Previously called acute non-lymphocytic leukemia. The incidence of AML occurs in          80% of adults and in individuals over 40 years of age.
   Clinical features and symptoms of acute leukemia:
     - Bone marrow failure leading to anemia, fever, infection, bleeding (thrombocytopenia)
     - Organ infiltration (bone pain, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly)
     - Meningeal symptoms (headache, nausea, vomiting, seizures)
     - Gingival hypertrophy (swelling)

2. Chronic Leukemia
   The next type of blood cancer is chronic leukemia. It progresses more slowly, offering a longer life expectancy, often more than 1 year.
   There are two types of chronic leukemia classified by the type of cell, namely:
     - Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML): Commonly affects middle-aged individuals.
     - Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL): Affects older individuals, mostly women over the age of 55.
   Clinical features and characteristics of chronic leukemia:
     - Hypermetabolism, characterized by weight loss, decreased appetite, night sweats, moist and warm skin.
     - Organ infiltration (lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly)
     - Anemia, marked by pallor, shortness of breath, palpitations
     - Skin bleeding, nosebleeds (epistaxis)

Leukemia Treatment:

• Supportive treatment, which includes blood transfusions, antibiotics, antifungals, and antipyretics.

• Chemotherapy: Cytostatics

• Monoclonal Antibodies as a current treatment for leukemia

• Stem cell transplantation (autologous and allogeneic)

Reviewed by: dr. Widi Angga Kusuma, M.K.K.

Source: Mitra Keluarga Hospital Health Article

Photo: freepik.com