Monocytic leukemia
| Classification according to ICD-10 | |
|---|---|
| C93 | Monocytic leukemia |
| C93.0 | acute monocytic leukemia |
| C93.1 | chronic monocytic leukemia |
| C93.2 | subacute monocytic leukemia |
| ICD-10 online (WHO version 2019) | |
The monocytic leukemia is a disease of the group of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). With this form of AML there is an independent blood cell formation with pathologically altered monocytes in the bone marrow. The immature blasts are flushed out into the bloodstream, so that if not treated, the patient will die within a short time.
causes
Environmental factors ( benzene , ion radiation ) and genetic predisposition are held responsible for the development of monocyte leukemia . The changed genetic material suppresses normal blood formation in the bone marrow and leads to the uninhibited cell division of the malignantly changed cells. There is a serious decrease in blood platelets ( thrombocytopenia ) and an increase in white blood cells leukocytosis .
Symptoms
At the beginning, the sick people have general symptoms such as fever, night sweats or fatigue. As the disease progresses, however, the symptoms become stronger: Anemia with pale skin and mucous membranes as well as recurring infections and fungal infections due to a solidifying immune deficiency occur. An enlarged spleen ( splenomegaly ), enlarged lymph nodes and a significant decrease in the number of blood platelets ( thrombocytopenia ) with frequent nose and gum bleeding can also be observed. Gingival infiltration , i.e. enlargement, swelling and inflammation of the gums, is typical of monocyte leukemia .
diagnosis
While the diagnosis of acute leukemia can be made relatively easily, the precise typing of the type of leukemia is more difficult.
As a rule, the diagnosis is supplemented by a bone marrow puncture , whereby the bone marrow tissue or its cells are examined cytologically .
therapy
The treatment depends on the age and general condition of the sick person, the genetics of the cells, the quality of the cell surface, the stage of the disease and the degree of organ involvement and its functional impairment, as well as the personal wishes of the sick person.
The therapy is based on intensive chemotherapy . The aim of induction therapy is to achieve complete remission, i.e. H. an elimination of all disease symptoms with normalization of the blood count and elimination of the pathological cell population in the bone marrow (blasts <5%). In younger patients, a bone marrow transplant , i.e. H. Transfer of healthy donor bone marrow stem cells after killing the affected patient's bone marrow help. In addition, infection prophylaxis is carried out by keeping the nasopharynx and gastrointestinal tract free from contamination with locally effective drugs. Blood transfusions are also given because red blood cells and platelets have to be replaced as a result of the anemia.
