Blast crisis

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Blast Crisis

Blast crisis (pronounced: /blæst/ /ˈkraɪsɪs/) is a phase in the progression of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), where the disease rapidly accelerates.

Etymology

The term "blast crisis" is derived from the word "blast", referring to immature cells, and "crisis", indicating a critical phase or condition.

Definition

Blast crisis is defined as the presence of greater than 20% blast cells in the blood or bone marrow. It is a critical phase in the progression of CML, characterized by rapid increase in the number of immature white blood cells (blasts) in the blood and bone marrow, leading to a decrease in the number of healthy blood cells.

Symptoms

Symptoms of blast crisis may include fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, and bleeding. Other symptoms may include pain or a feeling of fullness below the ribs due to an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly).

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of blast crisis is typically made through a complete blood count (CBC) test, which can show an increase in the number of blast cells. A bone marrow biopsy may also be performed to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment for blast crisis often involves chemotherapy to kill the blast cells. Other treatments may include targeted therapy, stem cell transplant, or supportive care to manage symptoms.

Related Terms

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski