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Causes, Signs, and Symptoms of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Home> Acute myeloid leukaemia> Symptoms and Causes

Patients with AML have multiple symptoms with varying severity based on the degree of anemia. Various acute myeloid leukemia causes exist, some of which are modifiable. Identifying the causes and preventing them is important to reduce the occurrence of AML.

Who is mainly affected by Acute Myeloid Leukemia?

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) may occur in any individual. However, certain population groups are more vulnerable to AML compared to other population groups. Adults ≥65 years of age are at higher risk of developing AML compared to those <65 years of age. Men are at higher risk of developing AML. People exposed to harmful radiation (nuclear reactor accidents), toxic chemicals (benzene), and those who smoke are more commonly affected by AML. Individuals with a history of radiation therapy or chemotherapy, underlying medical conditions, such as myelofibrosis, myelodysplasia, thrombocythemia, and polycythemia vera, and genetic conditions, such as Down syndrome, have a higher risk for AML.

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Signs and Symptoms of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

The signs and symptoms of myeloid leukemia may vary from one patient to another. Following are some of the common acute myeloid leukemia symptoms:

Fever

Fever is a common acute myeloid leukemia symptom and may be due to various reasons. Leukemia cells have the potential to raise the body temperature. Most cases of fever in patients with AML are due to infection, as AML reduces the strength of the immune system and makes the patient vulnerable to infection.

Bone Pain

Bone pain is another common acute myeloid leukemia symptom. Bone pain in patients with AML is due to various reasons. These include infiltration into bone marrow, bone marrow expansion, microscopic fractures due to weak bones, infection, and the effect of leukemia cells on the muscles.

Fatigue

Patients with AML also experience fatigue. Patients with AML have abnormal cells that displace the healthy cells. These patients have low levels of red blood cells, which are responsible for carrying oxygen to different tissues. Infection in these patients also imparts an excessive burden on the body. In addition, the body is also fighting against cancer, thereby consuming energy. Fatigue is also the result of emotional and psychological stress due to the disease.

Shortness of breath

Shortness of breath may also be an acute myeloid leukemia symptom. It may be for various reasons. Anemia reduces oxygen delivery to the tissues. Lack of oxygen in the tissues may lead to shortness of breath. Infections, particularly respiratory tract infections, also result in shortness of breath. The other causes of shortness of breath include infiltration of leukemia cells in the pulmonary system and fluid accumulation in the lungs in the advanced stages of the disease.

Pale skin

The red tint of the skin is due to the optimal level of red blood cells in the blood. However, patients with AML have reduced levels of red blood cells. Thus, the skin of patients with AML looks pale.

Frequent infections

Healthy white blood cells fight against pathogens to protect the body from infection. However, in patients with AML, healthy white blood cells are produced in less quantity, making the patients more vulnerable to infection. In addition, chemotherapy in these patients also lowers the number of healthy white blood cells.

Burning sensation

The burning sensation is not a common acute myeloid leukemia symptom. It may be because of inflammation, infection, or bone pain. In addition, a burning sensation may also be due to chemotherapy in this patient population.

Frequent nosebleeds

Frequent nosebleeds in patients with AML are primarily due to thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) due to the disease itself and chemotherapy. In some cases, the mucosal membrane of the nose may also be affected by AML cells, resulting in nosebleeds.

Bleeding from the gums

Bleeding gums are also an acute myeloid leukemia symptom, especially in cases where the patients have significantly low levels of platelets. Leukemia cells may also infiltrate the mucosal layer of the gums, resulting in bleeding.

Most Common Acute Myeloid Leukemia Causes

Some of the common acute myeloid leukemia causes include:

Smoking

Smoking is a common acute myeloid leukemia cause. AML due to smoking occurs because of chronic exposure to benzene and other harmful chemicals present in cigarette smoke.

Coming in contact with chemicals

Exposure to harmful chemicals is also an acute myeloid leukemia cause. Individuals exposed to benzene for a significant period of time may develop AML.

Chemotherapy drugs

Chemotherapy drugs, such as alkylating agents, are also acute myeloid leukemia causes. In many cases, myelodysplastic syndrome is followed by AML.

High doses of radiation

High doses of radiation, such as due to nuclear reactor accidents or radiation therapy for other cancers, could also serve as an acute myeloid leukemia cause.

Myeloproliferative disorders

Myeloproliferative disorders, such as polycythemia vera, are also acute myeloid leukemia causes. Other disorders that may cause AML include myelofibrosis and thrombocythemia.

Family History

People with a family history of AML have a higher risk of developing AML compared to people who do not have a family history of AML.

Genetic conditions

Genetic conditions, such as Down syndrome, trisomy 8, neurofibromatosis type 1, and Li-Fraumeni syndrome, are also acute myeloid leukemia causes.

When to See an Oncologist?

If the patients experience fever, pain, fatigue, easy bruising, bleeding from the nose or gums, frequent infections, and shortness of breath, they should consult an oncologist.

Conclusion

AML blood cancer symptoms include fever, infection, pale skin, shortness of breath, and easy bruising. AML cancer causes are smoking, chemical exposure, history of radiation therapy, family history, and underlying genetic conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does AML cancer happen?

The bone marrow produces blood cells. These cells are formed and mature before being released into the blood. In acute myeloid leukemia, the developing cells have mutations in their DNA that prevent their maturation.

A direct relationship between stress and AML has not been found. However, chronic stress may affect the immune system and is a risk factor for AML.

AML affects the blood and bone marrow in the early stages. In advanced stages, the organs affected include the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes. In some cases, the brain is also involved in AML.

Patients with leukemia may have white blood cells in the range of 100,000 to 400,000 cells/µL at diagnosis.

It has been found that patients with AML are at a 17% increased risk of developing other cancers, including kidney cancer, oral or throat cancer, and gastrointestinal cancer.