Diseases characterised by the uncontrolled proliferation of a particular type of cell that invades the bone marrow, displacing normal cells and gradually spreading to the rest of the body. The term acute defines both the rapid onset of the disease and the immaturity of the cells.
The causes of this disease, as with other cancers, are not limited to a single triggering factor.
There are many patients who are asymptomatic in the early stages. The symptoms they present are those typical of anaemia, such as fatigue, reduced tolerance to physical exertion, pale appearance, a strong tendency to sleepiness, palpitations, shortness of breath and even angina pectoris. Other symptoms may include swollen gums (gingivitis), enlarged spleen and/or liver, enlarged lymph nodes, joint pain, loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss.
The diagnosis is made by medical history, physical examination and blood tests. The diagnosis is confirmed by testing a sample of bone marrow.
Treatment depends on the type of leukaemia and is based on cycles of chemotherapy, with or without radiotherapy, and bone marrow transplantation.
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