Leukaemia is cancer of the white blood cells. Acute leukaemia means the condition progresses rapidly and aggressively and requires immediate treatment.
Acute leukaemia is classified according to the type of white blood cells that are affected by cancer. There are two main types:
- lymphocytes – mostly used to fight viral infections
- myeloid cells – which perform a number of different functions, such as fighting bacterial infections, defending the body against parasites and preventing the spread of tissue damage
These pages focus on acute myeloid leukaemia, which is cancer of the myeloid cells. The following other types of leukaemia are covered elsewhere:
Warning signs of acute leukaemia
Symptoms of acute myeloid leukaemia usually begin slowly before rapidly getting severe as the number of immature white blood cells in your blood increases (see below for an explanation of this). Symptoms include:
- pale skin
- tiredness
- breathlessness
- having repeated infections over a short space of time
- unusual and frequent bleeding
Read more about the symptoms of acute myeloid leukaemia.
What happens in acute leukaemia
All of the blood cells in the body are produced by bone marrow. Bone marrow is a spongy material found inside the bones. It is important because it produces special cells called stem cells.
Stem cells are very useful because they have the ability to create other specialised cells that carry out important functions. The stem cells in bone marrow produce three important types of blood cells:
- red blood cells – which carry oxygen around the body
- white blood cells – which help fight infection
- platelets – which help stop bleeding
Usually the bone marrow produces stem cells that are allowed to mature into "adult" blood cells. However, in cases of acute leukaemia, the affected bone marrow begins to release a large number of immature white blood cells that are known as blast cells.
The immature white blood cells begin to rapidly disrupt the normal balance of cells in the blood. This means that the body does not have enough red blood cells or platelet cells. This can cause symptoms of anaemia, such as tiredness, and increase the risk of excessive bleeding.
Also, as the white blood cells are not properly formed, they become less effective at fighting bacteria and viruses, making you more vulnerable to infection.
Acute leukaemia that is left untreated can prove fatal, as the blood supply will malfunction.
How common is acute myeloid leukaemia?
Acute leukaemia is an uncommon type of cancer. In the UK, around 7,600 people are diagnosed each year with leukaemia. Of those, about 2,300 people have acute myeloid leukaemia.
Acute myeloid leukaemia is more common in people aged 65 or over. For reasons that are not fully understood, it is more common in males than females.
The cause or causes of acute myeloid leukaemia are uncertain, but known risk factors include:
- exposure to high levels of radiation
- exposure to benzene, a chemical used in manufacturing that is also found in cigarettes
Read more about the causes of acute myeloid leukaemia.
Outlook
The outlook for people with acute myeloid leukaemia varies depending on the type they have. Some types are more challenging to treat than others. Younger people with the condition tend to have a better outcome than older people.
Chemotherapy is usually given to treat acute myeloid leukaemia. A bone marrow transplant may also be needed to achieve a cure. Read more about the treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia.
If a cure is not possible, there is a risk that the lack of healthy blood cells can make the person extremely vulnerable to life-threatening infections (due to the lack of white blood cells) or uncontrolled and serious bleeding (due to the lack of platelets).
