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

40sec

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How is acute leukemia treated?

The treatment for acute leukemia is chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can be administered orally or intravenously, and the choice between oral or intravenous chemotherapy depends on the type of acute leukemia. For patients with acute leukemia, if chemotherapy alone can effectively control the disease or achieve a cure, then there is no need for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. However, if chemotherapy alone cannot control the disease, and the patient is considered at high risk and of suitable age, then allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation should be considered.

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Written by He Li Fang

Hematology

53sec

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Causes of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Chronic granulocytic leukemia, also known as chronic myeloid leukemia, is a myeloproliferative tumor originating from pluripotent stem cells. It is characterized by a specific chromosomal alteration, commonly referred to as the Philadelphia chromosome, which is formed by the translocation of chromosomes 9 and 22, resulting in the formation of the BCR-ABL fusion gene at the molecular level. Chronic granulocytic leukemia is a clonal disease originating from pluripotent stem cells. Due to a significant expansion of the progenitor cell pool, there is excessive proliferation of myeloid cells and increased granulocyte production. The slow clearance of granulocytes leads to the accumulation of granulocytes in the body, which is the main cause of the disease.

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Written by He Li Fang

Hematology

1min 16sec

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chronic granulocytic leukemia course

The course of chronic granulocytic leukemia is relatively long, as it is a type of chronic leukemia. Its onset is gradual, and its natural course includes four stages: asymptomatic phase, chronic phase, accelerated phase, and blast crisis phase. Most patients seek medical attention and are diagnosed only after symptoms appear, with very few patients discovering blood abnormalities during physical examinations or blood tests conducted for other reasons. At this point, the spleen may already be mildly enlarged, or not enlarged at all. In the early stages of the disease, some patients may experience an absolute increase in basophilic granulocytes. When the white blood cell count is less than 20×10^9/L, there is a decrease in neutrophil alkaline phosphatase activity in peripheral blood, and this decreases further as the disease progresses. When the white blood cell count exceeds 40×10^9/L, the spleen can be felt below the ribs. Between 30 and 90×10^9/L, a range of related clinical symptoms may appear.

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Written by Li Fang Fang

Hematology

43sec

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Does leukemia cause coughing?

Leukemia patients' coughing is not directly caused by the leukemia itself, but often due to pulmonary inflammation that commonly accompanies leukemia, leading to symptoms such as coughing, phlegm, and chest pain. Due to a reduced count of normal neutrophils, leukemia patients have low resistance and poor immunity, making them highly susceptible to secondary infections, particularly pulmonary infections. Following a pulmonary infection, whether bacterial, fungal, or viral, patients may experience symptoms including coughing, severe cases may involve coughing up phlegm, chest pain, and breathing difficulties.

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Written by Zhang Xiao Le

Hematology

56sec

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Is a body temperature of 37.3 and feeling tired indicative of leukemia?

More than half of patients with acute leukemia present with fever as an early symptom, which can be low-grade or as high as 39~40°C or even higher. At the same time, some patients may experience fatigue due to anemia, but the presence of low-grade fever and fatigue does not necessarily indicate leukemia. If leukemia is suspected, further tests such as a complete blood count and peripheral blood smear examination are necessary. If the patient has abnormal white blood cells, combined with anemia and a reduction in platelets, and a large number of blast or early immature granulocytes are seen on the peripheral blood smear, leukemia should be highly suspected, and a further bone marrow biopsy examination is needed for a clear diagnosis. If the complete blood count and peripheral blood smear show no significant abnormalities, leukemia can generally be ruled out.