Symptoms of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

Written by Li Fang Fang

Hematology

Updated on December 27, 2024

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Most cases of chronic granulocytic leukemia are due to abnormal enlargement of the spleen, leading to abdominal distension and poor appetite. A small portion of chronic granulocytic leukemia cases show no obvious symptoms and are only discovered through routine physical examinations, finding an abnormal increase in white blood cells, leading to diagnosis and treatment in the hematology department. Common clinical symptoms of chronic granulocytic leukemia include an enlarged spleen. Additionally, some patients may also experience fatigue due to anemia, and a very few patients seek medical advice due to bleeding caused by a decrease in platelets.

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Written by Li Fang Fang

Hematology

45sec

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How is leukemia diagnosed?

When a routine blood test suggests the possibility of leukemia, further diagnostic tests such as bone marrow aspiration, biopsy, and immunophenotyping are required to confirm the diagnosis. Leukemia can be divided into acute leukemia and chronic leukemia. Acute leukemia includes acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia is further categorized into eight types, from M0 to M7. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is divided into three subtypes: L1 to L3. Chronic leukemia can be divided into chronic myeloid leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

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Written by He Li Fang

Hematology

1min 9sec

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Chronic Granulocytic Leukemia Classification

Chronic granulocytic leukemia is a myeloproliferative tumor originating from pluripotent stem cells, characterized by the presence of the Philadelphia chromosome or changes in the BCR/ABL fusion gene. Chronic granulocytic leukemia progresses through four stages: asymptomatic, chronic, accelerated, and blast crisis phases. Most patients are diagnosed after the onset of symptoms. Only a very few patients are diagnosed through routine physical examinations or other reasons when blood abnormalities are discovered. The earliest symptoms experienced during the chronic phase of the illness typically include fatigue, dizziness, and abdominal discomfort. The accelerated phase is a transitional stage before the blast crisis, marking a turning point where the disease worsens. It is often difficult to distinctly separate the accelerated phase from the blast crisis, and about 20%-25% of patients may enter the blast crisis phase directly without passing through the accelerated phase.

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Written by He Li Fang

Hematology

54sec

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chronic granulocytic leukemia platelets

Patients with chronic granulocytic leukemia have variations in blood platelets as seen in routine blood tests, which differ according to different stages of the disease. In the chronic phase, especially early on, platelet counts are mostly elevated or normal, with increases potentially exceeding 1000x10^9 per liter. The shape of the platelets is normal, but their function is often abnormal, with thrombus formation being rare. A minority of patients may experience a decrease in platelet count. As the disease progresses, routine blood tests can reveal significant decreases or increases in platelet counts along with the appearance of megakaryocytes. Additionally, some patients may also exhibit bone marrow fibrosis, characterized by an increase in reticular fibers or collagen fibers.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang

Pediatrics

36sec

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Early symptoms of childhood leukemia

Generally speaking, leukemia can manifest symptoms related to a decrease in all three blood cell lines. Changes in these three lines typically include an increase or decrease in white blood cells, a decrease in red blood cells leading to symptoms of anemia, and a reduction in platelets, resulting in symptoms of bleeding. Children with leukemia often experience recurrent fevers and are prone to infections, as well as bleeding gums. There may also be enlargement of the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes, along with pallor of the face and lips, which appear pale and bloodless.

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Written by Zhang Xiao Le

Hematology

1min 2sec

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What is acute leukemia?

Acute leukemia is a malignant clonal disease originating from hematopoietic stem progenitor cells. Normally, hematopoietic stem progenitor cells differentiate into white blood cells, which gradually mature into normal white blood cells. However, leukemia cells are primitive cells and immature cells, which means that the hematopoietic stem cells lose the ability to differentiate and mature. Additionally, they proliferate massively in the bone marrow while suppressing normal hematopoietic functions, and can widely infiltrate various organs such as the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes. Due to the suppression of bone marrow hematopoiesis, patients may exhibit clinical manifestations such as anemia, bleeding, and infections. Patients with acute leukemia often seek medical attention because of fever, fatigue, or bleeding from the skin and mucous membranes.