N syndrome is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that N syndrome, or a subtype of N syndrome, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Ophanet, who are a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when if affects 1 person per 2,000. They list N syndrome as a "rare disease". More information about N syndrome is available from Orphanet
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Research on predisposing factors isn't conclusive but points to some combination of viruses (viral remnants have been found in leukemic cells), genetic and immunologic factors, and exposure to radiation and certain chemicals. (See Predisposing factors to acute leukemia.)
Pathogenesis isn't clearly understood, but immature, nonfunctioning WBCs appear to accumulate first in the tissue where they originate (lymphocytes in lymph tissue, granulocytes in bone marrow). These immature WBCs then spill into the bloodstream and from there infiltrate other tissues, eventually causing organ malfunction because of encroachment or hemorrhage.
Acute leukemia is more common in males than in females, in whites (especially people of Jewish descent), in children (between ages 2 and 5; 80% of all leukemias in this age-group are ALL), and in people who live in urban and industrialized areas. Acute leukemia accounts for 20% of all adult leukemias. Among children, however, it's the most common form of cancer. Incidence is 6 out of every 100,000 people.
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Although the cause of CLL is unknown, researchers suspect hereditary factors (higher incidence has been recorded within families), still-undefined chromosome abnormalities, and certain immunologic defects (such as ataxia-telangiectasia or acquired agammaglobulinemia). The disease doesn't seem to be associated with radiation exposure, carcinogenic chemicals, or viruses.
Approximately 2 out of every 100,000 people develop CLL annually, with 90% of cases found in people who are older than age 50. Many cases go undetected by routine blood tests in people who are asymptomatic. The disease is common in Jewish people of Russian or Eastern European descent, and is uncommon in Asia.
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
The term 'prevalence' of N syndrome usually refers to the estimated population of people who are managing N syndrome at any given time. The term 'incidence' of N syndrome refers to the annual diagnosis rate, or the number of new cases of N syndrome diagnosed each year. Hence, these two statistics types can differ: a short-lived disease like flu can have high annual incidence but low prevalence, but a life-long disease like diabetes has a low annual incidence but high prevalence. For more information see about prevalence and incidence statistics.
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