Myeloproliferative Disorders |
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Myeloproliferative Disorders
 Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Signs and Symptoms There are four main types of myeloproliferative disorders (MPD):
Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is associated with an overproduction of specialized white blood cells, called granulocytes. -
Polycythemia mera (PV) occurs when too many red blood cells are made.
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Myelofibrosis (MF) with agnogenic myeloid metaplasia is associated with increased fibrosis in the bone marrow, resulting in a markedly enlarged spleen and low red blood cells (anemia).
Essential thrombocythemia (ET) occurs when there are too many platelets in the blood.
Patients with MPD can have many or few symptoms depending on how abnormal their blood counts become. Those with ET and PV have "thick" blood that is more prone to clotting and is associated with heart attacks, strokes and clots in leg veins. Patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and myelofibrosis (MF) often feel tired and report pain or fullness in their belly from an enlarged spleen.
Patients with MPD may have moderate or severe anemia, a condition where there are not enough red blood cells to carry oxygen. Other signs and symptoms of MPD may include:
- Shortness of breath during exertion
- Weakness and fatigue
- Pale skin
- Loss of appetite
- Prolonged bleeding from minor cuts due to low platelet counts
- Purpura, a condition in which the skin bleeds, causing black and blue or pin-sized spots on the skin
- Sinus, skin or urinary infections due to low white blood cell counts
Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated May 8, 2007
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