Understanding leukaemia: risk factors, symptoms and treatment

Abstract

Red bone marrow acts as the organ of haematopoiesis, generating the formed elements of blood. Stem cells in red bone marrow differentiate into two lineages. The myeloid lineage is the origin of erythrocytes, neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, monocytes and platelets. The lymphoid lineage is the origin of lymphocytes, which are essential to specific immune responses and antibody production. Leukaemias occur due to genetic/age-related changes or damage to red bone marrow, and are classified into myeloid or lymphoid forms depending on the lineage affected. Acute forms of leukaemia develop rapidly, while chronic forms develop slowly over time. This article, the second of a series on the pathophysiology of the blood and bone marrow, discusses the common leukaemias.

This article has been double-blind peer reviewed

In this article…

• Understand the process of blood cell production

• Why leukaemias are classed as myeloid or lymphoid

• The nature of the common leukaemias

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Key points

Leukaemias are cancers affecting the red bone marrow, leading to blood cell abnormalities and compromised immune responses

There are two forms of leukaemias: myeloid and lymphoid

Leukaemias can cause anaemia due to impaired red blood cell production

Myelodysplasic syndromes are characterised by the reduced production of healthy blood cells

Myeloproliferative disorders are characterised by excess blood cell production