What is the leukemia of adult T-cells?
leukemia T-cell adults (ATL) is a rare type of cancer that develops in immune T-cells. Atl is caused by a human leukemia/lymphoma virus T-cell type 1 or HTLV-1. This cancer is aggressive and most patients die within one year after diagnosis. Adult leukemia T-cells is a form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Atl affects adults and is most common in the Caribbean and Japan. This is recorded in less frequent clusters in Western countries.
HTLV-1, the virus responsible for ATL is retrovirus. It can be transmitted by blood, such as shared needles or blood transfusions, sexual contact or from mother to child. The latency period for the development of leukemia T-cell adults after HTLV-1 is on average 30 years. Less than five percent of people who are HTLV-1 carriers develop ATL.
Visible symptoms of adult leukemia T-cells include skin lesions and enlarged lymph nodes. Other symptoms include increased susceptibility to infections, high blood calcium levels, bone lesions enlarged liver and spleen. ExiFour subtypes of the disease, acute and lymphomatous, which grow very fast and less aggressive smoldering and chronic ATL.
Symptoms are rapidly evolving in acute ATL. The patient usually experiences enlarged lymph nodes in groin, armpits and neck, fatigue, skin rash and increased blood calcium levels, which can lead to severe constipation and irregular heart rhythm. Lymphomatous ATL is limited to lymph nodes. Chronic ATL progresses slowly and symptoms include enlarged lymph nodes, as well as enlarged organs such as spleen and liver, as well as rash and fatigue. Atl peeling proceeds very slowly and represents mild symptoms such as lesions on the skin.
The diagnosis of adult t-cell leukemia is made by biopsy. The healthcare provider will see abnormal skin tissue or tumor tissue through a microscope to form diagnosis. Can also perform a blood test for measurementBlood calcium and white blood cells. Once the diagnosis is made, the doctor may order CT scan of spleen, liver, chest and abdomen and bone marrow biopsy to determine the extent of the disease.
Since adult leukemia T-cells is relatively rare, it is difficult to perform clinical studies to develop a recommended treatment protocol. Standard ATL treatment is similar to other forms of T-cell lymphoma, a combination of chemotherapeutic drugs. Patients can also use antiviral drugs and interferon to treat HTLV-1 infection. Some healthcare providers recommend bone marrow transplants for patients entering remission.