Acute monocytic leukemia (AML-M5) is a rare subtype of acute myelogenous leukemia, a cancer that affects immature white blood cells. This condition causes a variety of symptoms, ranging from mild to life threatening, that are similar to those experienced by most leukemia patients. A bone marrow biopsy is necessary to confirm this specific subtype. For an AML-M5 diagnosis, more than 20 percent of cells in the bone marrow must be classified as monocytes (immature white blood cells). Of those 20 percent, more than 80 percent must be monoblasts (immature monocytes) that overtake the bone marrow's healthy red blood cells and platelets.
Anemia
Anemia, caused by an insufficient supply of red blood cells, is one of the most common symptoms of AML-M5. Red blood cells provide oxygen to muscles. This lack of red blood cells causes a variety of symptoms including chronic weakness and fatigue, dizziness and pallor. Patients suffering from anemia frequently complain of being cold. An anemia diagnosis does not automatically indicate the presence of AML-M5. Anemia is caused by a variety of disorders and usually reflects a lack of iron.
Excessive Bruising or Bleeding
AML-M5 causes excess bleeding and bruising as a result of the low platelet count that interferes with normal blood clotting. Patients may experience frequent bleeding from the gums and nose. Tiny bleeding sites called petechiae or purpura may also erupt from the skin after a slight bump or injury. More severe complications may include excessive bleeding from behind the eyes, the gastrointestinal tract lining or inside the head.
Infection
Healthy white blood cells fight infection. When they are overtaken by the immature cancer cells produced by AML-M5, this interferes with the immune system's ability to fight infection. More frequent and serious infections are a risk of this condition, in addition to an increased recovery time from infections.
Swollen Organs and Lymph Nodes
AML-M5 may experience an enlarged liver, spleen or both when an abundance of the cancerous blast cells collect in either organ. These patients may feel pain or a sense of fullness in the abdominal area as a result. Leukemia cells may also collect in the lymph nodes, causing additional swelling. Later stage symptoms include the painful collection of blast cells in the bone marrow and joints.
Considerations
Symptoms common to AML-M5 may be a result of a wide range of diseases, disorders or conditions. Your health care provider will conduct an examination, determine a pattern from all of your symptoms, and follow up with a battery of tests that will confirm an accurate diagnosis. A bone marrow aspiration and biopsy are necessary to confirm an elevated leukemic cell count and appropriate proportion of abnormal blast cells relative to healthy red blood cells, white cells and platelets.
Tags: blood cells, bone marrow, blast cells, white blood, white blood cells, Anemia caused, biopsy necessary