Leukemia is a disease of white blood cells. Acute myelogenous leukemia, or AML, is the most common type of adult leukemia, the Oncology Channel states. AML is sometimes called acute myeloid or myeloblastic leukemia. AML affects blast cells, which develop into granulocytes, a type of white blood cell. Blast cells are immature cells that multiply in the blood and bone marrow. Early symptoms of AML are nonspecific and may resemble flu, the Mayo Clinic states.
Decreased Red Blood Cells
Because white blood cells proliferate at an abnormal rate in AML, red blood cell, or RBC, production in the bone marrow decreases. A decrease in RBCs causes many of the symptoms associated with AML, such as anemia, a drop in hemoglobin, lethargy and fatigue. People with AML may be pale and develop shortness of breath, chest pain and tachycardia, or rapid heartbeat. Bleeding in the gastrointestinal or urinary tracts is uncommon but possible, the Merck Manual states.
Decreased Platelets
Platelet production is also crowded out by the proliferating white blood cells in AML. Platelets help blood clot. Symptoms of low platelets, also known as thrombocytopenia, include easy bruising, excessive bleeding from small injuries, and a pinpoint skin rash caused by bleeding under the skin known as petechiae. Spontaneous bleeding from the gums or frequent nosebleeds are also symptoms of low platelets in AML, the Mayo Clinic states. Some variants of AML can lead to disseminated intravascular clotting, or DIC, a disorder where clotting factors are used up by abnormal clotting in capillaries all over the body.
Abnormal White Cells
Infections and fevers occur in AML because the abnormal white blood cells produced are crowding out production of the mature white blood cells that fight infection. Overwhelming infection can develop suddenly, according to the Merck Manual.
Other Symptoms
Other symptoms of AML include bone pain and weight loss. Less common symptoms include enlargement of the spleen, lymph nodes or liver, and leukemic meningitis, manifested by headache, vomiting, seizures and irritability, Merck states.
