Episode 117: AML Series, Pt. 3 - AML Induction: Definitions and Overview

This episode of The Fellow on Call, a Heme-Onc podcast, focuses on AML induction therapy, specifically the initial steps of stabilizing a patient with acute leukemia. The discussion covers the importance of confirming blast morphology via flow cytometry to differentiate between myeloblasts and lymphoblasts, and to rule out acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), emphasizing the immediate initiation of ATRA if APL is suspected. The hosts highlight the critical need to assess and manage potential complications like tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) through prophylactic measures such as IV fluids and allopurinol, and close monitoring of relevant labs. They further address the complexities of leukostasis, its clinical signs, and the ongoing debate between leukapheresis and chemotherapy for emergent cytoreduction, noting the lack of definitive prospective evidence favoring one method over the other.