The discovery and early understanding of leukemia.
The early history of leukemia reaches back 200 years. In 1811, Peter Cullen defined a case of splenitis acutus with unexplainable milky blood. Alfred Velpeau defined the leukemia associated symptoms, and observed pus in the blood vessels (1825). Alfred Donné detected a maturation arrest of the white blood cells (1844). John Bennett named the disease leucocythemia, based on the microscopic accumulation of purulent leucocytes (1845). That same year, Rudolf Virchow defined a reversed white and red blood cell balance. He introduced the disease as leukämie in 1847. Henry Fuller performed the first microscopic diagnose of a leukemic patient during life (1846). This gradual process brought us towards our current understanding of this complex disease.
Division of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Department of Pediatrics, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. k.r.kampen@bkk.umcg.nl
Kim R
KR
Kampen
D001634:Bibliographies as Topic; D032882:Comprehension; D006405:Hematology / Q000266:history* / Q000379:methods; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000266:history*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011173:Portraits as Topic; D011643:Publishing / Q000266:history