Leukaemia update. Part 1: diagnosis and management

Summary points About 8000 people in the United Kingdom are diagnosed with leukaemia each year, and in 2010, 4504 people died in the UK from this disease.1 Leukaemia encompasses a clinically and pathologically diverse set of conditions whose incidence and prevalence are rising. In the past, leukaemia was classified on the basis of the morphological characteristics of abnormally proliferating leucocytes in the blood and bone marrow. Emerging genetic data, however, have shown genomic heterogeneity in what were thought to be homogeneous disorders, prompting the World Health Organization to revise the classification.2 Despite these advances, the profound immunological and haematological disturbances inherent in most leukaemias and the systemic side effects of chemotherapy remain complex challenges. This is a two part review with the first part focusing on the current diagnosis and management of leukaemia. The second part will consider the types of support patients need in the community. #### Sources and selection criteria We searched PubMed for clinical trials and the Cochrane Library for meta-analyses. We also sought expert opinion from experienced consultant haematologists. Keywords used were leuk(a)emia, chemotherapy, supportive care, and community care. We also reviewed guidelines from the British Committee for Standards in Haematology and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Leukaemia is a cancer of circulating white blood cells. Leukaemias are divided into acute and chronic types. When immature white blood cells or …