What is chronic myelomonocytic leukemia?
Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a condition in which the body creates an excessive number of immature white blood cells known as myeloblasts and myelocytes. These cells prevent the formation of monocytes that fight both infection and help other blood cells in the body to implement immunity. Other cells also cause chaos in the body by occupying the space needed in the bone marrow for platelets and red blood cells. As a result, the patient may suffer from several problems, including anemia, infection or tendency to bleed easily.
The condition is the most common in older men. Most often it is caused by elements of the environment, chemicals and exposure to radiation. Some cases of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia are also attributed to the use of some types of anticancer drugs. The severity of the condition depends on the number of immature, while blood cells or explosions in the bone marrow or blood; chromosomal changes; How many plates or white blood cells are vet marrow and blood; And whether the patient has anemia. Type CMML-1 indicates that in KostnLess than 10 percent and five percent that exist in the blood are present. The CMML-2 usually has a range of 10 to 19 percent of bone marrow explosions and five to 19 percent blood explosions.
symptoms of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia include anemia, a sense of fullness under the ribs and an enlarged spleen or liver. Some patients may obtain leukopenia, an infection caused by a low number of white blood cells. Other symptoms of CMML include bruises and bleeding caused by insufficient platelet and blood accuracy from the skin known as petechiae.
chronic myelomonocytic leukemia is usually incurable. Drugs such as cytarbine, decitabine and imatinib can be treated, depending on the nature of the condition. If sufficient donors can be found, stem cell transplantation can sometimes cure CMML, especially in young patients.
It is expected that the average patient to whom chron is diagnosedThe myelomonocytic leukemia, will live from one to two years after the start of treatment. Some factors work against the patient's survival, including large spleen, severe anemia and levels of high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Survival is also less likely in patients who have a high number of explosions or who have an unusually high number of white blood cells. In some patients who are not cured, CMML could turn into acute myelogenic leukemia (AML).