Common risk factors in the development of acute myeloid leukemia are advanced age, benzene exposure, prior myelodysplastic syndrome, germline mutations, and other conditions like aplastic anemia.

A number of risk factors for developing acute myeloid leukemia have been identified including:

• Advanced age: This is the most common risk factor for acute leukemia. Elderly patients are more likely to develop myeloid leukemia, due to a longer duration and opportunity for mutations to accumulate in cells. These mutations are more likely to accumulate in hematopoietic stem cells through a process called clonal evolution.^[1]
• Benzene^[2]: Benzene is a chemical solvent and aromatic hydrocarbon, for which exposure is a significant risk factor for acute leukemia.^[2]
• Prior myelodysplastic syndrome: Myelodysplastic syndrome is a disorder characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis, defective maturation of blood cells, and peripheral cytopenias. Antecedent myelodysplastic syndrome is implicated in some forms of acute leukemia, such as acute myeloid leukemia. Myelodysplastic syndrome is a precursor for leukemia, as this disease is characterized by the presence of dysplastic or cancerous cells that do not meet the requirements for a formal diagnosis of leukemia.^[3]
• Germline mutations: In general, germline predisposition to acute promyelocytic leukemia is rare. In patients with acute myeloid leukemia, germline mutations in the RUNX1 gene can predispose to the development of the cancer.^[4]
• Other conditions: Other causes include myeloproliferative syndromes, aplastic anemia, myelofibrosis, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, polycythemia vera, chemical exposure and several congenital conditions such as Down syndrome, Bloom syndrome, Fanconi anemia, and neurofibromatosis.

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