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Symptoms of Myelomonocytic Leukemia

Myelomonocytic leukemia is a form of leukemia in which too many monocytes, immature white blood cells, are produced in the bone marrow. When this occurs, the monocytes overtake the red blood cells and platelets that exist in the bone marrow. This can lead to the development of anemia, infection or easy bruising and bleeding. There are two types of myelomonocytic leukemia: an adult type called chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), and a juvenile type referred to as juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML). Symptoms are similar for both and range from minor to life-threatening.

  1. Anemia

    • Anemia is one of the chief complaints of those suffering from myelomonocytic leukemia. Any disorder that causes an insufficient number of healthy red blood cells that provide oxygen to the muscles is referred to as anemia. Anemia causes a variety of other symptoms, including chronic fatigue and weakness, lethargy, pale complexion and vertigo. The patient may also complain of frequently feeling cold. Anemia alone is not indicative of myelomonocytic leukemia. It is caused by a variety of disorders, diseases and conditions, including insufficient iron.

    Bleeding and Bruising

    • Myelomonocytic leukemia can cause patients to bruise or bleed easily and frequently. This is due to a low platelet count that makes blood clotting difficult. Patients may experience more frequent nosebleeds and bleed from the gums. Pinhead-sized bleeding sites (petechiae or purpura) may also appear in the skin as a result of the slightest bit of trauma. More serious complications include hemorrhaging at the back of the eyes, inside the head, or from the gastrointestinal tract lining.

    Infection

    • The primary role of white blood cells is to fight infection within the body. The immature leukemic monocytes that replace healthy white blood cells are incapable of performing this function. Therefore, the immune system is affected and the patient is prone to a higher risk of infection. Frequent infections or those that last longer than expected are typical of myelomonocytic leukemia.

    Swelling

    • Myelomonocytic leukemia patients may experience pain or feelings of fullness just below the ribcage or in the abdomen due to an enlarged liver, spleen or both from an overabundance of monocytes collecting in these organs. In addition, monocytes may collect in the lymph nodes and cause additional swelling. This swelling can be detected during a physical examination. Lymph nodes under the armpits and on either side of the neck may be checked for hard lumps under the skin. In later stages, monocytes may build up within the bone marrow and joints, causing severe pain.

    Considerations

    • Symptoms common to myelomonocytic leukemia are also caused by other disorders, diseases or conditions. When diagnosing a patient, physicians will examine the overall pattern of symptoms and make a final determination based on a series of blood tests to rule out other disorders. A final determination is based on the results of a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy indicating an elevated monocyte count in the blood, lower than 20 percent blast cells in the blood or bone marrow, and abnormalities in immature red blood cells, white cells and platelets.

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