What are the symptoms of advanced myelofibrosis?

If myelofibrosis is discovered late, it can pose a serious threat to the patient's health. The late-stage symptoms of myelofibrosis are very obvious, such as fatigue, significant weight loss, and excessive sweating, so everyone should learn more about it.

Its main clinical manifestations are:

1. Enlargement of the spleen and liver: This is the most important clinical manifestation, with an incidence of almost 100%. Occasionally, the patient discovers a mass in the left upper abdomen or it is discovered during a physical examination. Some people believe that the degree of spleen enlargement is related to the course of the disease, and every 1 cm of the spleen below the ribs represents one year of disease course. Due to an enlarged spleen, the abdomen often feels full or heavy. The spleen is firm to the touch and generally not tender; however, if the spleen enlarges too quickly, local pain may occur due to local splenic infarction, and even a friction sound may be heard.

2. Systemic symptoms: Most patients in the middle and late stages have symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, heat intolerance, and sweating. Normal or decreased appetite. Weight loss is particularly obvious in the late stage.

3. Early stage of anemia: There is mild anemia, which gradually worsens with the decrease of hemoglobin. In the late stage, symptoms such as pale complexion, fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath after physical activity, and palpitations are more obvious.

4. Bleeding symptoms: In the early stage, the platelet count is increased or normal, and there are no bleeding symptoms. In the late stage of thrombocytopenia, purpura or ecchymosis often appears on the skin, and epistaxis may occur.

5. Others: A small number of patients may have unclear bone pain. A very small number of patients develop secondary gouty arthritis due to increased blood uric acid.