Related articles: Leukemia
Definition
Leukemia is a disease caused by the cancerous mutation of the cells responsible for the synthesis of figurative elements of the blood (white, red and platelet globules), confined to the bone marrow. Due to leukemia series of abnormal or immature blood cells are produced, unable to perform the tasks entrusted to their healthy counterpart; consequently, depending on the cell line involved, leukemia causes a whole series of symptoms linked to anemic processes (low concentration of red blood cells), infectious (lack of white blood cells) and hemorrhagic (thrombocytopenia).
Most common symptoms and signs *
- anisocytosis
- Asthenia
- Increase in the ESR
- Kidney stones
- palpitations
- Pain in a hip
- Abdominal pain
- Bone pain
- Bruising
- hemothorax
- Eosinophilia
- Hepatomegaly
- Exophthalmos
- Ease of bleeding and bruising
- Temperature
- Hydrops Fetal
- hypercalcemia
- Hyperhidrosis
- hyperkalaemia
- hypersplenism
- Hyperuricemia
- Leukopenia
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Livedo Reticularis
- macrocytosis
- Headache
- Meningitis
- Metrorrhagia
- Pancytopenia
- Weight loss
- petechiae
- thrombocytopenia
- Priapism
- Proteinuria
- Vaginal bleeding
- Bleeding gums
- Bone Sclerosis
- Cold sensation
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Drowsiness
- splenomegaly
- Confusional state
- Sweating
- Night sweats
- thrombocytosis
- Pericardial effusion
Further indications
However, the symptoms of leukemia vary in relation to the form in which it occurs. In acute leukemias, for example, the onset of symptoms is abrupt and rather violent, while there are chronic forms in which the disease can pass almost unnoticed in the early stages.
In general, the intensity of leukemia symptoms depends on the number and sites of accumulation of leukemia cells, which makes the possible symptomatic picture quite various and non-specific. For example, if the brain is involved, the above symptoms may add to headaches, vomiting, confusion, loss of muscle control, or convulsions. Sometimes, leukemia can also involve the stomach, intestines, kidneys, testicles, eyes, skin or lungs.
