Anemia Concepts
This underlies the symptoms of fatigue, pallor, and tachycardia in anemia.
Decreased RBC production and hemoglobin levels
This treatment is required when hemoglobin levels drop below 7 g/dL in thalassemia major patients.
Blood transfusions
Leukemia is a cancer that primarily affects these three areas.
Blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system
This initial phase of chemotherapy aims to induce remission by destroying leukemic cells to less than 5% in the bone marrow.
Induction phase
These symptoms in leukemia patients arise from bone marrow failure and decreased RBCs.
Pallor, lethargy, and shortness of breath
Anemia is classified based on these two factors, one focusing on RBC characteristics and the other on causes.
Morphology and etiology
This therapy helps manage iron overload from frequent blood transfusions and can be administered orally, intravenously, or subcutaneously.
Iron chelation therapy
This type of leukemia is the most common in children and involves the proliferation of immature small lymphocytes.
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
This stage of leukemia treatment follows remission, involving additional courses of induction drugs to eliminate residual leukemic cells.
Consolidation therapy
This diagnostic study is essential for evaluating leukemia, alongside CBC and lumbar puncture.
Bone marrow aspiration
This life-threatening form of thalassemia usually presents symptoms by age 2 and involves severe anemia.
Thalassemia Major
Essential management step for patients with thalassemia major to prevent organ damage.
Monitoring heart, liver, and lung function
This leukemia type is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of myeloblasts and accounts for 80% of acute leukemias in adults.
Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
Lower doses of the same drugs used in induction are administered every 3 to 4 weeks during this phase to maintain remission.
Maintenance therapy
These physical findings in leukemia patients result from dysfunctional cell accumulation and organ infiltration.
Splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, and lymphadenopathy
These conditions in thalassemia major result from iron deposition due to frequent blood transfusions.
Splenomegaly and hepatomegaly
Currently the only potential cure for thalassemia, though it carries significant risks.
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)
This is a common complication in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), presenting symptoms like headaches and irritability.
Central nervous system involvement
These treatments, along with radiation and HSCT, are part of the comprehensive management of leukemia.
Corticosteroids and immunotherapy
A life-threatening complication of leukemia with high WBC counts, causing symptoms like visual disturbances and respiratory distress.
Leukostasis
Thalassemia is inherited in this genetic pattern, affecting the production of globin chains.
Autosomal recessive inheritance
This ongoing research aims to correct globin gene expression issues, offering new treatment options for thalassemia in the future.
Research into gene transfer therapy
Leukemia often arises from these combined influences, including exposure to chemicals like benzene and certain genetic disorders.
Combination of genetic and environmental factors
A common complication following allogenic HSCT where donor cells attack the recipient's tissues, causing symptoms like rashes and jaundice.
Graft vs. host disease
This diagnostic study helps classify leukemia and assess disease spread, following initial non-invasive tests like CBC.
PET/CT imaging