Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APML, APL) is a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a cancer of the white blood cells. In APL, there is an abnormal accumulation of immature granulocytes called promyelocytes. The disease is characterized by a chromosomal translocation involving the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARα or RARA) gene and is distinguished from other forms of AML by its responsiveness to all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA; also known as tretinoin) therapy. . Acute promyelocytic leukemia was first characterized in 1957 by French and Norwegian physicians as a fatal hyperacute disease, with a median survival of less than 1 week. Today, the forecasts have drastically improved; The 10-year survival rates are estimated to be about 80-90% based on one study.Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia
Leukemias List
- APML – Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia
- AGL – Acute Granulocytic Leukemia
- ALL – Acute Lymphatic Leukemia
- ALL – Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
- AMEL – Acute Megakaryoblastic Leukemia
- AMML – Acute Myelomonocytic Leukemia
- AML – Acute Monocytic Leukemia
- AML – Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia
- AML – Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
- AML – Acute Myeloid Leukemia
- APL – Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia
- AMOL – Acute Monocytic Leukemia
- AUL – Acute Undifferentiated Leukemia
- tAPL – Therapy-Related Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia
- ABL – Acute Basophilic Leukemia
- ABL – Acute Biphenotypic Leukemia
- M3 – acute promyelocytic leukemia
- t-APL – therapy-related acute promyelocytic leukemia
- AProL – acute promyelocytic leukemia
Signs and Symptoms :
These symptoms may be different from person to person. Some people may have more symptoms than others, and symptoms can range from mild to severe. This list does not include all symptoms.
This disease can cause these symptoms:
- Abdominal pain
- Abnormal bleeding
- Alcoholism
- Anemia
- Anorexia
- Bone marrow hypercellularity
- Bone pain
- Bruising susceptibility
- Chronic infection
- Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation
- Ecchymosis
- EpistaxisExertional dyspnea
- Fatigue
- Gangrene
- Gingival bleeding
- Gingival overgrowth
- Leukocytosis
- Leukopenia
- Lymphadenopathy
- Metrorrhagia
- Muscle weakness
- Oral cavity bleeding
- Pancytopenia
- Petechiae
- Productive cough
- Purpura
- Stomatitis
- Thrombocytopenia
- Vertigo
- Weight loss
Diagnosis:
The initial laboratory workup of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) should include the following:
- Complete blood cell (CBC) count with differential
- Peripheral blood smear
- Comprehensive metabolic profile for baseline renal and liver function tests,
- Electrolyte levels
- Prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
- Fibrinogen assay
Possible References Used
