cmml | About chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CSA) is one of the so-called "chronic" leukemias, as well as chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and chronic lymphoid leukemia (LLC). They are thus distinguished from the second group of so-called "acute" leukemias.

Characteristics of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CSA) is a form of blood cancer that usually appears in people over the age of 60 years, and mainly in men. It has the peculiarity of associating the characteristics:

Myelodysplastic syndromes (insufficient production of certain blood cells);
and myeloproliferative syndromes (excessive production of other blood cells).
Good to know: myeloproliferative syndromes (SMP) are forms of cancer of the blood or bone marrow.

In concrete terms, the combination of these two syndromes as observed in the case of the CSA results in:

Increased production of stem cells that will give white blood cells monocytes or myélocytes.
The lack of development of certain stem cells that will remain immature. These blasts will gradually take the place of red blood cells and blood platelets within the bone marrow.
NOTE: The CSA has commonalities with chronic myeloid leukemia, but the Philadelphia chromosome is not present in the case of the CSA.

Finally, it is interesting to note that WHO (World Health Organization) distinguishes:

The CSA-1 in which the blasts account for less than 5% of the cells circulating in the blood and less than 10% of the cells present in the bone marrow;
The CSA-2 in which the blasts represent between 5 and 19% of the cells circulating in the blood and 10 to 19% of the cells present in the bone marrow.

Risk factors for the CSA
Researchers were able to identify 3 risk factors for chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, although not all are confirmed:

The first and main factor is genetic because 30% of people developing a CSA have certain chromosomal anomalies.
On the other hand, it would appear that exposure to high doses of radiation greatly increases the risk of developing a CSA.
Similarly, some cancer therapies would be responsible for some chronic myélomonocytaires leukemias.
Symptoms of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
The symptoms present in the case of the CSA are similar to those found in other types of leukemia. They tend to become increasingly numerous as leukemic cells develop in the bone marrow and accumulate in the blood. So we can find:

Infections associated with fever
Coagulation problems (with bruises at the slightest shock);
A splenomegaly (increase in the volume of the spleen) or a hepatomegaly (increase in the volume of the liver), these organs becoming palpable under the ribs;
A asthenia (fatigue and widespread weakness);
Weight loss
A pallor of the skin.