Myeloid leukemia is a cancerous disease of the blood and marrow. It can be acute or chronic. It mainly affects the white blood cells. What is the life expectancy? What treatments to take?
Myeloid leukemia is a blood disease that affects white blood cells. This pathology represents approximately 20% of adult leukemias. In France, 8,000 people a year are affected, with the discovery of 700 new cases. The chronic form of the disease affects mainly adults over the age of 50with a male predominance. The number of cases is increasing, given the general aging of the population. The proportion of people affected in the world population is 1 2 cases per 100,000 people. What is the difference between myeloid leukemia chronic and acute ? What are the symptoms and their evolution? What are the treatment and survival rate?
Definition: what is myeloid leukemia?
Leukemia means excess white blood cells in the blood. “The term “myeloid”, as opposed to lymphoid, refers to cells of the myeloid lineage. Myeloid leukemia is a blood disease that affects white blood cells whose main function is to defend us against infections, including bacteria and fungi.” says Dr. Christophe Willekens, hematologist. Myeloid leukemia is characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation in the bone marrow of hematopoietic stem cells which are at the origin of white blood cells. This excessive manufacturing leads to a abnormal increase in non-functioning white blood cells in the bone marrow and blood. White blood cells, failing to mature, contribute to theweakened immune system. There myeloid leukemia acute is an aggressive form.
Difference Between Acute and Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
There are many types of leukemia, it is important to distinguish their characteristics. “Chronic myeloid leukemia is a disease that develops slowly, over several years, at the level of the bone marrow. Acute myeloid leukemia is a disease faster manifestation whose vital prognosis is engaged in the short term. Chronic myeloid leukemia can turn into an acute type after several years. Acute myeloid leukemia is generally discovered suddenly and treatment must be rapid. There management of chronic myeloid leukemia is less aggressive“explains Dr. Willekens.
At what age can you develop myeloid leukemia?
The disease affects rather old people, “the median age is around 70 years old“ notes the hematologist.
What are the symptoms of myeloid leukemia?
“Disease is often discovered fortuitously during a check-up. Of the blood test abnormalities linked to anemia (decrease in hemoglobin level) will be observed. Anemia is manifested by fatigue, shortness of breath on exertion and paleness. It is also possible to bleed without trauma in the nose, gums or mucous membranes. The patient is more prone to infections due to lack of functioning white blood cells“ recalls our expert.
What is the evolution of myeloid leukemia?
It all depends on the type of leukemia but in the case of chronic myeloid leukemia, 3 phases are observed :
► A chronic phase during which healthy white blood cells and platelets are still functional.
► An acceleration phase during which the number of white blood cells and immature cells increases in the blood, with the appearance of the first symptoms.
► A phase of acute transformation blast in which more than a third of blood cells and marrow are immature (blasts). At this last stage and in the absence of treatment, life expectancy is 3 to 6 months.
“The diagnosis of myeloid leukemia is made by a blood test and a myelogramcarried out through a bone marrow aspiration, associated with genetic analyzes“ indicates our interlocutor.
What causes myeloid leukemia?
“In the vast majority of cases, there are no causal factors but we know that a exposure to chemotherapy or radiation therapy as part of cancer treatment or exposure to nuclear radiation may increase the risk of developing myeloid leukemia” continues our expert. In addition, we observe genetic predispositions. “These recently discovered genetic abnormalities can be passed down from generation to generation” adds Dr. Willekens.
Without treatment, life expectancy is 5 years.
The treatment of myeloid leukemia must take into account the genetic characteristics and those of the patient (age, physical activity, etc.). Some chronic myeloid leukemias require onlysimple monitoring while acute forms may involve hospitalization and resuscitation. The drug treatment combines chemotherapies and/or targeted therapies. “THE treatments for acute myeloid leukemia have seen great advances with mainly the emergence of targeted therapies, drugs acting on the signals responsible for the growth of cancer cells or their survival. The remission rate increased. 2 in 3 patients over the age of 75 can be put into remission thanks to the treatments available. They will be on continuous treatment and will be able to live almost normally” emphasizes the hematologist. For patients who are young or who can bear it, a heavier treatment is considered (potentially including bone marrow transplant).
What is the life expectancy with myeloid leukemia?
The impact on the vital prognosis and survival of the patient depends on the type of myeloid leukemia. The life expectancy and quality of life of subjects with chronic myeloid leukemia has improved considerably with the appearance of targeted therapies. The chronic phase allows live normally for several years. In the case of acute myeloid leukemia, life expectancy is considerably reduced but a cure remains the objective, particularly in young subjects.
Thanks to Dr Christophe Willekens, hematologist at Gustave Roussy.