Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), also called acute myeloid leukemia, is a myeloid white blood cells leukemia, abnormal proliferation. Bone marrow characterized by the rapid proliferation of abnormal cells and affect the normal blood cells in acute myelogenous leukemia are the most common adult acute leukemia, and its incidence rate with the person's age increased. Acute myeloid leukemia is relatively rare diseases, from cancer in the United States about the numbers of deaths of 1.2%.

The symptoms of AML are caused by replacement of normal bone marrow with leukemic cells, resulting in a drop in red blood cells, platelets, and normal white blood cells. These symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, easy bruising and bleeding, and increased risk of infection. Although several risk factors for AML have been identified, the specific cause of AML remains unclear. As an acute leukemia, AML progresses rapidly and is typically fatal within weeks or months if left untreated.

Acute myeloid leukemia is a potentially curable disease; but only a minority of patients are cured with current therapy. AML is treated initially with chemotherapy aimed at inducing a remission; some patients may go on to receive a hematopoietic stem cell transplant.