Question
How long do newborns with leukemia typically survive? What common complications lead to death?
Answer
Congenital leukemia refers to those who become ill within the neonatal period (within 4 weeks). Most cases are acute myeloid leukemia. In addition to the common symptoms of acute leukemia, skin damage is particularly prominent, and may even be the initial symptom. Skin damage can manifest as nodular skin infiltration, papules, polymorphic erythema, hemorrhagic spots, eczema, or vesicular damage. Newborns may die within 2-3 months, often accompanied by other congenital malformations. When diagnosing this condition, it should be distinguished from leukemoid reactions caused by other diseases such as neonatal sepsis and neonatal hemolytic disease. Due to insensitivity to chemotherapy drugs, the course of the disease is generally short.