Exam Cram

• AML: acute myeloid leukaemia is a type of acute leukaemia affecting the myeloid bone marrow stem cell

• Presentation: 30yr + fatigue, fevers, bleeding gums, bruising

• Investigations: anaemia, blood film: blasts, thrombocytopenia, DIC

• Management: atra if APML (AML + DIC)

Outline

Background

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Assessment

Diagnosis

Management

Haem Reg Notes

APML

Form of AML that can present with DIC. 

Management ATRA: allows immature myelocytes to develop as normal. Chemotherapy is used to kill cancerous cell. ATRA + chemotherapy can have very good outcomes. 

ATRA can cause differentiation syndrome (DS), a post treatment cytokine storm (I think similar to Tumour Lysis Syndrome and Jarisch Herxheimer (JH) reactions, but the pathophysiology is probably different!). This presents with fluid overload but is managed with steroids. 

Resources and References

Written in 2025