Increase in blood cells is typically categorized as myelogenous or lymphocyte and each case have acute or chronic form in relation to the cell type involved. Today the acute leukemia is progressing at an alarming rate and mainly affecting those cells that have not yet fully developed or separated. This is the severe form because the immature cells lack normal functionality. On the other hand chronic leukemia advances slowly permitting growth of more cells which are able to carry out more activities in the system.
These classes determine the type of treatment to be carried out depending on how quickly the disease may develop. (Lubkin and Larsen, 2002). Patient’s information According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, “Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) results from acquired genetic damage to the DNA of developing cells in the bone marrow”. The effects span from unrestrained, exaggerated growth and addition of body cells called “leukemic blasts”, and in such cases they cannot function normally.
Secondly is reduction on production of normal marrow cells, leading to a deficiency of red cells called anemia. The platelets and white cells may also be reduced and the case is known as ‘Pancytopenia’. Although not contagious, causes of acute leukemia is not evident but several risk factors are associated with its menace such as, high exposure to radiation may be during chemotherapy especially among the health personnel or contact with chemical benzene in explosives and also exposure to some drugs by chemotherapeutic agents.
Acute anemia and down-syndrome are some opportunistic conditions associated with the condition. An increased risk of AML is spread of a susceptibility gene(s) to offspring through the germ-line. The affected individuals appeared healthy because older people are more likely to develop chronic leukemia but about 15 percent of childhoods suffer from acute leukemia. “The risk increases about ten-fold in patients from age 30-34 (about 1 case per 100,000 people) to age 65-69 (about 1 case per 10,000 people).
” (Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 2001). P. M is a 17 years old Hispanic male diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), also known as acute myelogenous leukemia, vomiting and diarrhea. And in addition there is detected Pancytopenia, and he is on chemotherapy. Pathophysiology of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Inline with The Leukemia and Lymhoma Society on ‘Acute Myelogenous Leukemia’ in 2001, diagnosis of AML involves examination of the stained (dyed) blood cells and marrow cells, counting of red cell and platelet.
This is done through a microscope that indicates presence of leukemic blast cells but the assessment has to be confirmed by inspection of the marrow that invariably will show any presence of leukemic blast cells. The aim of AML treatment is to reduce the amount of leukemic blast cells in the blood or marrow. It can restore the count to normal cells production. In some cases to restore from extreme sides of effects intensive chemotherapy may be required and this is usually the norm since majority of patients only report the attack when it is already severe. The various available approaches to AML treatment are under rigorous study.