European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKAEMIA

Shivangi Nema, Shashikant Namdev, Sarvesh Jain, Saurabh Ahirwar and Megha Shrivastava*

ABSTRACT

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia develops in both children and adults, with a peak incidence between 1 year and 4 years. Most acute lymphoblastic leukaemia arises in healthy individuals, and predisposing factors such as inherited genetic susceptibility or environmental exposure have been identified in only a few patients. It is characterised by chromosomal abnormalities and genetic alterations involved in differentiation and proliferation of lymphoid precursor cells. Along with response to treatment, these abnormalities are important prognostic factors. ALL accounts for approximately 2 percent of the lymphoid neoplasms in the United States and occurs slightly more frequently in males than females, and three times as frequently in Caucasians as in African-Americans. Patients typically present with symptoms related to anemia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia due to the replacement of the bone marrow with the tumor. Symptoms can include fatigue, easy or spontaneous bruising and/or bleeding, and infections. Additionally, B-symptoms, such as fever, night sweats, and unintentional weight loss are often present but may be mild, and hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and lymphadenopathy can be seen in up to half of adults on presentation. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is common and can be accompanied by cranial neuropathies or symptoms, predominantly meningeal, related to increased intracranial pressure. This activity examines when acute lymphocytic leukemia should be considered on differential diagnosis and how to properly evaluate it. This activity highlights the role of the interprofessional team in caring for patients with this condition.

Keywords: Leukaemia, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, Lymphoid Cells.