The Difference Between Acute Leukemia and Chronic Leukemia

Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
Updated on September 18, 2024
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The difference between acute and chronic leukemia lies in the maturity stage of the leukemia cells. Acute leukemia is characterized by more immature leukemia cells, while chronic leukemia cells tend to be more mature. Acute leukemia is further divided into acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Among them, acute myeloid leukemia is subdivided into eight types, from M0 to M7. Chronic leukemia is divided into two main categories: chronic lymphocytic leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia. As the name suggests, acute leukemia has a rapid onset and a shorter survival period, whereas chronic leukemia develops more slowly and has a longer life expectancy.

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Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
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How is acute leukemia chemotherapeutically treated?

Acute leukemia is first divided into two main categories: one is acute myeloid leukemia, and the other is acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The chemotherapy regimens for these two types are different. Among them, acute myeloid leukemia is further divided into eight types from M0 to M7, among which type M3 can be treated with oral targeted chemotherapy drugs, while other types of acute myeloid leukemia require chemotherapy for treatment. The other main category is acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which also requires chemotherapy for treatment.

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Written by He Li Fang
Hematology
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Is leukemia treatment free?

Leukemia is a type of malignant tumor originating from hematopoietic stem cells and progenitor cells in the myeloid hematopoietic system. Leukemia cells differentiate and organize at the early stages of different myeloid developments, exhibiting the morphological and immunophenotypic characteristics of myeloid development. The incidence of acute myeloid leukemia in the population is 2-4/100,000, with the median age of onset being sixty-four to seventy years, making it a disease of the elderly. The incidence increases with age, accounting for 70% of acute leukemias, and representing 55%-70% of infant, 17%-20% of childhood, and 80%-90% of adult acute leukemias. Regarding the medical insurance situation in China, some leukemia conditions are eligible for major illness assistance. All leukemia treatments can be reimbursed at a certain ratio under the national health insurance, although there is no free treatment for leukemia at present, unless one participates in relevant clinical trials, which could offer some compensation, and certain treatment drugs are provided free of charge.

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Written by Zhang Xiao Le
Hematology
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What is acute leukemia?

Acute leukemia is a malignant clonal disease originating from hematopoietic stem progenitor cells. Normally, hematopoietic stem progenitor cells differentiate into white blood cells, which gradually mature into normal white blood cells. However, leukemia cells are primitive cells and immature cells, which means that the hematopoietic stem cells lose the ability to differentiate and mature. Additionally, they proliferate massively in the bone marrow while suppressing normal hematopoietic functions, and can widely infiltrate various organs such as the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes. Due to the suppression of bone marrow hematopoiesis, patients may exhibit clinical manifestations such as anemia, bleeding, and infections. Patients with acute leukemia often seek medical attention because of fever, fatigue, or bleeding from the skin and mucous membranes.

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Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
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Can leukemia be cured?

Leukemia is a broad category of diseases. Some leukemia patients can achieve clinical cure through oral chemotherapy or intravenous chemotherapy, while others can only achieve cure through allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Among them, chronic granulocytic leukemia can be clinically cured through oral chemotherapy due to the availability of targeted drug treatments, resulting in a longer survival period. In the case of acute promyelocytic leukemia, the advent of drugs like retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide has enabled patients to achieve clinical cure through a combination of oral and intravenous chemotherapy. However, many other types of leukemia often require allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to reach clinical cure.

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Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
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How is leukemia diagnosed?

When a routine blood test suggests the possibility of leukemia, further diagnostic tests such as bone marrow aspiration, biopsy, and immunophenotyping are required to confirm the diagnosis. Leukemia can be divided into acute leukemia and chronic leukemia. Acute leukemia includes acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia is further categorized into eight types, from M0 to M7. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is divided into three subtypes: L1 to L3. Chronic leukemia can be divided into chronic myeloid leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.