A myeloproliferative disorder is a bone marrow disease marked by excess. This excess can be in the form of either an overproduction of blood producing cells or fibrous tissue.
As a result, your blood count may indicate an increase in the blood cells that’s been over produced or a decrease in other blood cells because overcrowding has caused their deficit. And any symptoms will relate to proliferation or shortage based on the type of blood cells affected.
Myeloproliferative disorder refers to a group of diseases, the primary types are:
Chronic myelogenous leukemia is sometimes typed as a myeloproliferative disease as well.
Polycythemia vera occurs when too many blood cells are produced, especially red blood cells. As the disease progresses, you’ll likely experience some of these symptoms:
- fatigue
- dyspnea
- hematuria
- chest pain
- headaches
- nosebleeds
- night sweats
- hypertension
- red face, skin
- bleeding gums
- upset stomach
- vision distortions
- stomach bleeding
- breathing difficulty
- excessive bleeding
- deep vein thrombosis
- purple skin spots, patches
- intense pruritus after being in warm water
Polycythemia vera typically leads to vascular type diseases because too many red blood cells make blood flow difficult and too many platelets lead to blood clot formation.
Essential thrombocytosis occurs when too many platelet cells are produced. The type of symptoms caused by this myeloproliferative disorder are related to blood vessel blockage or bleeding problems, like:
- edema
- dizziness
- weakness
- chest pain
- headaches
- nosebleeds
- paresthesia
- easy bruising
- blood in urine
- vision changes
Excess platelets can cause random blood clots to form, especially in your smaller vessels.
Idiopathic myelofibrosis, aka myelosclerosis, occurs when the bone marrow produces too much fibrous tissue, which crowds blood cell production. Symptoms may involve:
- fever
- fatigue
- weight loss
- night sweats
- abnormal bleeding
- frequent infections
- breathing problems
Because this type of myeloproliferative disorder can reduce the amount of white blood cells produced your risk for infections escalates.
Often, myeloproliferative diseases produces no symptoms for years. They are generally slow acting, but eventually may cause some serious complications, including:
- gout
- stroke
- anemia
- hepatitis
- gangrene
- liver failure
- heart attack
- kidney failure
- heart disease
- kidney stones
- stomach ulcers
- chronic infections
- excessive bleeding
- spleen enlargement
These blood proliferating health conditions start out benign. However, as a myeloproliferative disorder progresses it has a slight chance of transforming into a cancerous condition, i.e. leukemia.
Generally, they have no cure. Yet, treatments are available to help with symptoms and prevent complications associated with your myeloproliferative disease.
