 |
| Causes and Symptoms of Acute Erythroblastic Leukemia |
What is an acute erythroblastic leukemia?
The acute erythroblastic leukemia, which is also called erythremic myelosis, DiGuglielmo syndrome, or erythroleukemia, is a disease that is caused by the uncontrollable proliferation of immature erythrocytes or red blood cells.Acute erythroblastic leukemia, a variant of acute myelocytic leukemia, originates in the blood and in the bone marrow. In this form of leukemia, a large number of abnormal, immature red blood cells are produced. The advanced phase is also called the blast crisis. At this stage, over a half of the cells in the bone marrow are immature malignant cells (also called blast cells or promelocytes).
Acute Erythroblastic Leukemia: Causes and Symptoms
The causes of acute erythroblastic leukemia are largely unknown. However, acute erythroblastic leukemia constitutes 10 to 20 per cent of leukemias secondary to radiation alkylator therapy, or overexposure to benzene.Patients with this type of leukemia have less than the normal amount of healthy red blood cells and platelets, which results in insufficient amounts of oxygen being carried through the body. This condition is called anemia, and causes patients to experience severe weakness and tiredness. Patients may have less than the normal number of white blood cells as well. Other symptoms include fever, chills, loss of appetite and weight, easy bleeding or bruising (due to lower than normal platelet levels), bone or joint pain, headaches, vomiting, and confusion. In addition, patients with leukemia may have hepatosplenomegaly, an enlargement of the liver and spleen. Enlargement of these organs is noticed as a fullness or swelling in the abdomen, and can be felt by a doctor during a physical examination. The occurrence of Sweet's syndrome, a rare skin disorder accompanied by fever, inflammation of the joints (arthritis), and the sudden onset of a rash, has also been associated with acute erythroblastic leukemia.