Causative and risk factors
Chronic myelogenous leukemia is usually associated with a chromosome abnormality called the Philadelphia chromosome. Risk factors include advancing age, male gender and exposure to ionizing radiation and electromagnetic fields.
Clinical presentation
Easy bleeding tendency is observed in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. Other symptoms of CML include fever, fatigue, night sweats and bone pains. Anorexia (loss of appetite) and cachexia (loss of weight) are seen. The patient gets easily satiated even with little food. Pain in abdomen may be noted on left side below ribs. The skin of the patient looks pale. The spleen may become enlarged. There is an increased tendency to catch infections.
Chronic myelogenous leukemia must be differentiated from other types of leukemia such as chronic neutrophilic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.
Diagnosis & Investigations
Diagnosis is based upon your symptoms, physical examination and investigations. Investigations include:
- CBC with white blood cell differential
- Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy
Testing for the presence of the Philadelphia chromosome
Treatment
The treatment of CML includes medications, chemotherapy, and stem cell transplant.
The outlook is fairly good. The treatment does not aim to cure but to keep the disease symptoms at bay. The outcome of patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia has improved after the introduction of the drug imatinib.
