Acute Monoblastic Leukemia

What is Acute Monoblastic Leukemia?

Also referred to as acute monocytic leukemia or AML, acute monoblastic leukemia is a relatively rare type of the disease that affects approximately 11,000 Americans. Acute monoblastic leukemia is actually a sub-category of leukemia, one of the four major types of cancer. Affecting the blood and bone marrow, leukemia causes the body to produce an abnormal amount of white blood cells and causes malignancies within blood-forming tissues.

Acute Monoblastic Leukemia Statistics

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society estimates that in the year 2007 there will be over 40,000 new cases of leukemia discovered in the United States alone. Most incidences of the disease occur in older adults, although anyone may develop leukemia at any point in their life. Researchers also indicate that the incidence rate for AML is higher in males than in females. Lastly, leukemia rates are highest among people who are of European descent as opposed to those of African descent.

Causes of Acute Monoblastic Leukemia

The exact causes of acute monoblastic leukemia are not yet known as there is rarely a medical explanation for why one person develops the disease and another does not. Although a definitive cause has not yet been uncovered, there are certain risk factors that may increase a person’s likelihood of developing leukemia in general.

Risk Factors for Developing Leukemia

  • Working with certain chemicals: Regular exposure to chemicals such as formaldehyde and benzene, a widely used solvent comprised of hydrogen and carbon, may increase one’s chances of developing a form of leukemia.
  • Excessively high levels of radiation: Abnormally high levels of radiation may increase a person’s risk of leukemia.
  • Certain genetic diseases: Down syndrome and other genetic diseases affecting chromosomes may play a role in the development of leukemia.

Acute Monoblastic Leukemia Symptoms

The most common symptoms of acute monoblastic leukemia are:

  • Weakness, frailty, or a lack of physical strength
  • Pale complexion
  • Bruising or bleeding easily
  • Fever and/or night sweats
  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Recurrent infections or healing poorly
  • Pain in the joints or bones
  • Unexplained weight loss or vomiting

Of course, these signs and symptoms aren’t necessarily an accurate indicator that acute monoblastic leukemia is present, as other infections or disorders may also cause the appearance of similar symptoms. A proper diagnosis by a medical professional is of the utmost importance for successfully treating and managing the disease.

Often times, many forms of leukemia go undetected and are discovered during routine examinations or check-ups. However, acute types of the disease appear quickly and worsen at a much faster rate than chronic cases of leukemia.

Acute Monoblastic Leukemia Treatment Options

The main purpose of treatment for acute monoblastic leukemia is to bring the disease into a state of complete remission, which means there is no sign of the disease with blood and marrow cells returning to their normal levels. In patients diagnosed with an acute form of leukemia, entering into remission that lasts five years from their initial diagnosis indicates a successful cure.

Chemotherapy and radiotherapies are used in conjunction with about 50 different types of drugs that have been developed explicitly for the treatment of leukemia. Immunotherapy, a treatment that uses antibodies or the body’s own immune cells to fight off the disease and thwart its progression, is also being considered in various forms for treating leukemia.

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