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In this Page
Acute myeloid leukemia Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Acute myelogenous leukemia; AML; Acute granulocytic leukemia; Acute Symptoms
nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL); Leukemia ­ acute myeloid (AML); Leukemia ­ Signs and tests
acute granulocytic; Leukemia ­ nonlymphocytic (ANLL) Treatment
Last review ed: September 6, 2010.
Support Groups
Expectations (prognosis)
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is cancer that starts inside bone marrow, the soft tissue
inside bones that helps form blood cells. The cancer grows from cells that would normally Complications
turn into white blood cells. Calling your health care provider
Acute means the disease develops quickly. Prevention
See also: References

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) Figures
Leukemia
Auer rods

Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most common types of leukemia among
adults. This type of cancer is rare under age 40. It generally occurs around age 60. (This
article focuses on AML in adults.)
Acute Monocytic
AML is more common in men than women.
Leukemia ­ Skin

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 Persons with this type of cancer have abnormal cells inside their bone marrow. The cells
grow very fast, and replace healthy blood cells. The bone marrow, which helps the body
fight infections, eventually stops working correctly. Persons with AML become more prone
to infections and have an increased risk for bleeding as the numbers of healthy blood cells
decrease.
Most of the time, a doctor cannot tell you what caused AML. However, the following things
are thought to lead to some types of leukemia, including AML:
Certain chemicals (for example, benzene) Blood cells

Certain chemotherapy drugs, including etoposide and drugs known as alkylating

agents
Radiation
Problems with your genes may also play a role in the development of AML.
You have an increased risk for AML if you have or had any of the following:
A weakened immune system (immunosuppression) due to an organ transplant Read More
Chemotherapy
Blood disorders, including:
Immunodeficiency disorders
Polycythemia vera
Polycythemia vera
Essential thrombocythemia
Anemia
Myelodysplasia (refractory anemia) Bone marrow transplant
Exposure to radiation and chemicals

Symptoms Drugs of interest
Bleeding from the nose Arsenic Trioxide Injection

Bleeding gums Cytarabine

Daunorubicin
Bruising
Fludarabine Injection
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 Fludarabine Injection
Bone pain or tenderness
Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin Injection
Fatigue
See all...
Fever
Heavy menstrual periods
Recent activity
Pallor
Turn Off Clear
Shortness of breath (gets worse with exercise)
Acute myeloid leukemia
Skin rash or lesion PubMed Health

Swollen gums (rare) See more...

Weight loss

Signs and tests
The doctor will perform a physical exam. There may be signs of a swollen spleen, liver, or
lymph nodes.

A complete blood count (CBC) shows anemia and a low number of platelets. A white blood
cell count (WBC) can be high, low, or normal.

Bone marrow aspiration will show if there are any leukemia cells.
If your doctor learns you do have this type of leukemia, further tests will be done to
determine the specific type of AML. There are eight subtypes of AML. They range from M0
to M7, based on which blood cells are abnormal.

Treatment
Treatment involves using medicines to kill the cancer cells. This is called chemotherapy.
But chemotherapy kills normal cells, too. This may cause side effects such as excessive
bleeding and an increased risk for infection. Your doctor may want to keep you away from
other people to prevent infection.

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 Other treatments for AML may include:

Antibiotics to treat infection

Bone marrow transplant or stem cell transplant after radiation and chemotherapy

Red blood cell transfusions to fight anemia

Transfusions of platelets to control bleeding

Most types of AML are treated the same way. However, a form of AML called acute
promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is treated with a medicine called all­trans retinoic acid
(ATRA). This medicine helps leukemia cells grow into normal white blood cells.
The drug arsenic trioxide is for use in patients with APL who do not get better with ATRA
or chemotherapy.

Support Groups
See:
Cancer support group

Leukemia support group

Expectations (prognosis)
When the signs and symptoms of AML go away, you are said to be in remission.
Complete remission occurs in most patients.
With treatment, younger patients with AML tend to do better than those who develop the
disease at an older age. The 5­year survival rate is much lower in older adults than younger
persons. Experts say this is partly due to the fact that the body of a younger person can
better tolerate strong chemotherapy medicines.
If the cancer does not come back (relapse) within 5 years of the diagnosis, you are
considered permanently cured.

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 Complications
Complications of AML and cancer treatment include severe infections and life­threatening
bleeding. Sometimes, the cancer comes back (relapses) after treatment.

Calling your health care provider
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you develop symptoms of AML.
Call your health care provider if you have AML and have a fever that will not go away or
other signs of infection.

Prevention
If you work around radiation or chemicals linked to leukemia, you should always wear
protective gear.

References
1. Appelbaum FM. The acute leukemias. In Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil
Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 194.
Review Date: 9/6/2010.

Review ed by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of
Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood
and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California.
Also review ed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Disclaimer
Copyright © 2011, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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