

The effect is only for a short time, but it may help until the chemo has a chance to work. This treatment lowers blood counts right away. This type of catheter is called a central venous catheter (CVC) or central line and has both IVs built in. Sometimes, a single large catheter is placed in a vein in the neck or under the collar bone for the pheresis, instead of using IV lines in both arms. Two intravenous (IV) lines are required – the blood is removed through one IV, goes through the machine, and then is returned to the patient through the other IV. In leukapheresis, the patient’s blood is passed through a special machine that removes white blood cells (including leukemia cells) and returns the rest of the blood to the patient. In the meantime, leukapheresis (sometimes just called pheresis) might be used before chemo. Chemo can take a few days to lower the number of leukemia cells in the blood. Some people with AML have very high numbers of leukemia cells in their blood when they are first diagnosed, which can cause problems with normal blood circulation. Sometimes another type of treatment needs to be started even before the chemo has had a chance to work. Treatment for AML usually needs to start as quickly as possible after it is diagnosed because it can progress very quickly. The acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) subtype of AML is treated differently. Remission induction (often just called induction)Ī third phase, known as maintenance, is sometimes used after consolidation.Ĭhemotherapy (chemo) is the main treatment for most types of AML, although other treatments might be used as well.

Treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is typically divided into 2 main phases:
