Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen. If anaemic, a person may feel lethargic, suffer shortness of breath, look pale and feel tired. Anaemia is generally the result of leukaemia cells invading the bone marrow, inhibiting RBC production. Anaemia may be ameliorated by blood transfusions. Thrombocytopenia - means less than the normal number of platelets.
Platelets are responsible for helping the blood to clot and prevent bleeding.
People with thrombocytopenia may suffer from nose bleeds, bruising or blood loss from any part of the body. Severe thrombocytopenia may be corrected by platelet transfusion. In some patients the body destroys its own red blood cells and platelets. This destruction is called auto-immune haemolysis . Steroid medications are required to treat this symptom.