leukose

Leukose is a term used in some languages to refer to leukemia, a group of malignant diseases characterized by clonal proliferation of abnormal white blood cells that interfere with normal blood cell formation in the bone marrow and blood. In English, the preferred term is leukemia. The word leukose may also appear in veterinary or historical contexts to describe related conditions.

Leukemia is commonly categorized by the rate of progression (acute or chronic) and by the type of blood cell involved (lymphoid or myeloid). Acute leukemias feature rapid growth of immature cells and require prompt treatment, while chronic leukemias progress more slowly and may be monitored before intervention. Lymphoid leukemias involve lymphocyte lineages; myeloid leukemias involve other myeloid cells. The disease arises from genetic mutations that disrupt normal hematopoiesis, leading to ineffective production of normal blood cells and accumulation of malignant cells in blood, bone marrow, and sometimes organs such as the liver or spleen.

Common symptoms include fatigue, weakness, pale skin, frequent infections, fever, easy bruising or bleeding, swollen lymph nodes, and unintentional weight loss. Diagnosis relies on complete blood counts, examination of blood and bone marrow samples for abnormal cells, flow cytometry, cytogenetic and molecular testing, and imaging as needed to assess organ involvement.

Treatment varies by type and patient factors and may include chemotherapy, targeted therapies (for example, tyrosine kinase inhibitors in certain subtypes), immunotherapy, radiation therapy, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Prognosis depends on leukemia type, genetic features, response to treatment, and patient health.

In veterinary contexts, leukose can also refer to avian leukosis, a viral disease in birds such as chickens caused by avian leukosis virus, presenting with tumors or immunosuppression rather than human leukemias.