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Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia – Causes and Evaluation

Primary cause for acute lymphocytic leukemia is development of errors in the DNA of a bone marrow cell. Leukemia in adults is often acute myelogenous leukemia. Leukemia occurring due to radiation is in most cases acute myelogenous leukemia.

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Causes and Evaluation of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

New York (USA), June 25, 2013

Causes of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

The primary cause for acute lymphocytic leukemia is development of errors in the DNA of a bone marrow cell. These errors prompt cell to continue multiplying whereas in the normal course, a healthy cell stops dividing and dies. Immature cells or lymphocytes are produced due to such continuous production of white blood cells. These cells cannot function properly. They not only disrupt functioning of healthy cells but also push them away. The actual cause behind such DNA error or mutation is not known.

Other possible causes of acute lymphocytic leukemia include:

– Radiation (X-rays) exposure before birth
– Bone marrow transplant
– Chemotherapy treatment in the past
– Chromosome problems
– Toxins like benzene
– Genetic disorders like Down’s syndrome
– Sibling with leukemia

Evaluation of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

Acute lymphocytic leukemia does not disclose any specific risk factors. Leukemia in adults is often acute myelogenous leukemia. Leukemia occurring due to radiation is in most cases acute myelogenous leukemia. In few cases, it is acute lymphocytic leukemia. This is evident from the fact that Hiroshima atomic bomb survivors contracted acute lymphocytic leukemia whereas Nagasaki atomic bomb did not. In rare cases, antecedent hematologic disorder like myelodysplastic syndrome leads to acute lymphocytic leukemia. However, most patients with myelodysplastic syndrome develop acute myelogenous leukemia rather than acute lymphocytic leukemia.

If you have any other cancer and undergo chemotherapy treatment, you could develop secondary acute leukemia. This mostly progresses into acute myelogenous leukemia rather than acute lymphocytic leukemia.

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