Acute Lymphoid Leukemia (ALL)

Every year, 3,000-5,000 new cases of ALL are diagnosed in the United States. This illness originates in lymphatic cells of the bone marrow. In most instances, and at the time of diagnosis, the bone marrow is completely replaced by leukemic cells. This disease responds well to treatment and is curable in both children and adults. Most patients with ALL are under age of 10 or over age of 50. Cause of this illness is, as of yet, unknown.

Signs and symptoms

Most signs and symptoms of this disease are due to failure of bone marrow to produce normal blood cells. Symptoms could be due to anemia, low white blood cells and low platelet counts. Most common symptoms are:

• Fatigue

• Weakness

• Paleness

• Bleeding

• Fever and infections

• Bone pain in arms, legs or back

Diagnosis

A simple blood test can be enough to establish the diagnosis. Leukemia cells can be seen and easily recognized under microscope. Click here to see a Leukemia Cell. Patients should also have a bone marrow test. Since most patients are very sick at the time of diagnosis, other tests and procedures, blood tests, chest X-Ray, etc. might be indicted.

Classification

Nature of ALL and its prognosis varies from patient to patient. This disease can be classified as:

1. Low risk

2. Intermediate risk

3. High risk

Low risk refers to the situation where the risk of relapse is low and the chance of cure is very high. High risk refers to the opposite situation. May technical factors are taken into consideration to render a risk status to a patient, i.e. high white blood count, certain genetic abnormalities in the Leukemia cells, certain molecular markers, involvement of nervous system or testicles, etc..

Treatment

Current treatments have significantly changed the outcome of leukemia patients . ALL is highly curable in children and less so in adults (80% vs. 20%). It is empirical that this disease be managed by an Oncologist or Hematologist who has a good insight to this illness, and is also well experienced.

Treatment of this condition has many facets to it

• Treatment of acute lymphocytic leukemia

• Treatment of the complications

Prognosis

ALL has a very good prognosis in children and it is a more difficult disease in adults.