Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) and APML

Question 1

What are the 2 ways in which AML can develop?

Answer 1

primary disease

secondary transformation of a myeloproliferative disorder.

Question 2

Features of AML related to bone marrow failure

Answer 2

anaemia - weak, pallor
neutropenia - infection
thrombocytopenia - bleeding
splenomegaly
bone pain

Question 3

How can white cells be high, but patients still be at risk of infection?

Answer 3

Functioning neutropenia

Large number of immature blasts ells which cannot fight off infection

Question 4

Poor prognostic factors

Answer 4

> 60 years
20% blasts after first course of chemo
Genetics: deletions of chromosome 5 or 7

Question 5

Genetics found in APML

Answer 5

t(15;17)
fusion of PML and RAR-alpha genes

Question 6

Average age of patient presenting with APML

Answer 6

25 years old

Question 7

Blood film finding in APML

Answer 7

Auer rods

Question 8

How do patients with APML usually present?

Answer 8

UNWELL
DIC or thrombocytopenia

Question 9

If identified early, does AMPL have a good or bad prognosis?

Answer 9

Good