Introduction To Leukaemia Flashcards
What is leukaemia?
Malignant disorders of haematopoetic stem cells characteristically associated with an increase number of white cells in bone marrow or land peripheral blood
What are haematopoeitic stem cells?
Multipotent and self-maintaining
What can progenitor cells divide to produce?
Many mature cells
What are examples of progenitor cells?
Lymphoid/myeloid
What are the two types of progenitor cells?
Undifferentiated and committed
What is a clonal disease?
When all malignant cells derive from a single mutant cell
What can you use to diagnose leukaemia?
Peripheral blood blast test
Bone marrow biopsy
Lumbar puncture
What does a peripheral blood blast test in the diagnosis of leukaemia?
To check the presence of blasts and cytopenia
Where is the bone marrow biopsy taken from?
Pelvic bone and results compared with peripheral blood
Why is a lumbar puncture done?
To determine if leukaemia has spread to the CSF
What are the possible predisposing factors for leukaemia?
Genetic risk factors
Environmental risk factors
Lifestyle-related risk factors
What syndromes increase the likelihood of leukaemia?
Downs and fanconi’s anaemia
What are the genetic risk factors for leukaemia?
Gene mutations involving oncogenes and/or tumour suppressors
Chromosome aberrations
Inherited immune system problems
What types of chromosomal abberations increase the risk for leukaemia?
Translocations
Numerical disorders
What are the environmental risk factors for leukaemia?
Radiation exposure
Exposure to chemicals and chemo
Immune system suppression
What type of radiation exposure is a risk factor for leukaemia?
Acute radiation accidents
Atomic bomb survivors
What type of exposure to chemicals and chemo is a risk factor for leukaemia?
Cancer chemo with alkylating agents
Industrial exposure to benzene
What lifestyle risk factors are there for leukaemia?
Smoking
Drinking
Excessive sun exposure
Overweight
What are the risk factors for childhood leukaemia?
Exposure to EM fields Infections early in life Mothers age when the child is born Nuclear power stations Parents smoking history Foetal exposure to hormone
What are the four main types of leukaemia?
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)
Acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML)
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)
Chronic granulocytic leukaemia (CML)
What are the features of acute disease (in general)?
Rapid onset and short but severe course
What are the features of chronic disease (in general)?
Persisting over a long time
What are the features of acute leukaemia?
Undifferentiated cells decharacterised by uncontrolled cloning and accumulation of blast cells
What are the characteristics of chronic leukaemia?
Differentiated leukaemia
Uncontrolled cloning and accumulation of mature white blood cells (-cyte cells)