Blood Disorders: Types, Symptoms, and Treatments

The symptoms of blood diseases vary depending upon their type. However, symptoms that are common in all types of blood disorders are weight loss and fatigue.

Most blood disorders interfere with proteins, cells, nutrients, or platelets in our blood and decrease their number. Most of these blood disorders result from mutations in parts of particular genes and can run in families. However, some medications, medical conditions, and lifestyle choices are also known causes.  

What is a Blood Disorder?

Most blood disorders get their name from the part or component of blood that they impact.

The following is the list of blood disorder categories that decrease the number of blood components or interfere with their functionality.

• Anemia – reduces the number of red blood cells
• Leukopenia – reduces the number of  white blood cells
• Thrombocytopenia – reduces the number of platelets in the blood.

There are also blood disorders that increase the components in the blood, which are classified into three different categories:

Erythrocytosis –increases the number of red blood cells

Leukocytosis – increases the number of white blood cells

Thrombocythemia or Thrombocytosis – increases the number of platelets

After knowing these primary categories of blood disorders, understanding specific blood disorders becomes easier. Let dig in a little deeper with understanding the type of white blood cell disorders.

Types of White Blood Cell Disorders

White blood cells are the army inside our body that fights infections. According to their immune purpose, they are born in the bone marrow and are divided into different cell types.

Their major types are:

• Neutrophils: destroy viruses and bacteria.
• Lymphocytes: regulate the immune system along with killing viruses.
• Monocytes or Macrophages: eat deactivated or dead viruses, fungus, and bacteria.
• Eosinophils and Basophils: kill parasites and respond to allergic reactions.

There are various types of white blood cell disorders. Some of these types impact only one of the types of white blood cells, while the other types can impact multiple or all types of white blood cells. Among all the types of white blood cells, lymphocytes and neutrophils are the ones that get impacted by disorders the most. White blood cell disorders are usually proliferative or are a type of cancer.

Proliferative disorders cause a rapid and noticeable increase in the number of white blood cells in our blood. This typically occurs due to an infection in our blood. However, sometimes, it may also be because of bone marrow cancer.

Leukopenia, however, is the reduction in the number of white blood cells circulating in our body. It typically occurs due to:

• Infection
• Illness
• Certain medications, like chemotherapy medications or corticosteroids
• Toxin exposure
• Genetic mutations 

Three main types of blood cancers directly impact white blood cells. These are:

Lymphoma

This type of blood cancer develops when lymphocytes multiply and change rapidly. The two major types of lymphoma include non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

American Cancer Society reveals that Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is among the common types of cancer in the U.S, which affects every 4 out of 100 cancer patients. However, this type of cancer is quite severe. Around 70 per cent of people fighting non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma survive at least five years after being diagnosed.

Hodgkin’s lymphoma is much rearer than non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. American Cancer Society reveals that only 8,830 cases of Hodgkin’s lymphoma were recorded in America during the year 2021. Of those diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, 14 per cent may not even survive for the next five years.

Leukemias

Leukemias cause abnormal white blood cells to build up in the bone marrow. This affects the ability of bone marrow to produce platelets and red blood cells. Acute leukemias can develop rapidly, whereas chronic leukemias are more gradual and develop over time.

According to an estimate by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 61,090 Americans will receive a leukemia diagnosis in 2021. Around 63.7 per cent of the U.S citizens diagnosed with leukemia survived for five or more years after their diagnosis between 2007-2017.

Myelomas

Myelomas are responsible for plasma cells to build up in the bone marrow. This affects the functions and development of other blood cells. Among the types of myelomas, “Multiple myeloma” is the most common type. This myeloma involves the build-up of abnormal plasma cells in the bone marrow or develops tumors in various locations in the bone marrow.

National Cancer Institute reveals that between 2006 – 2014, about 50.7 per cent of Americans battling myeloma survived for at least after being diagnosed. In general, myelomas are far from being common. According to an estimate by the American Cancer Society, 34,920 Americans will receive a leukemia diagnosis in 2021.

Treatment and Diagnosis

Doctors usually diagnose lymphomas, leukemias, and myelomas using:

• Blood tests
• Urine test
• Complete medical history
• Medical exams
• Biopsy
• Bone marrow aspirations
• Lumbar punctures/ Spinal taps ( this process involves the collection of spinal fluids for examination)
• Imaging tests, including CT scans, X-rays, MRIs, PET scans, and ultrasounds

Blood cell cancers that usually don’t cause any symptoms often require no treatment except monitoring. Doctors typically treat individuals battling active or aggressive blood cancers using a mix of:

• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Surgery
• Stem cell transplant, which infuses the body with bone marrow cells. These cells are capable of developing blood cells to replace destroyed cells.
• Targeted drug therapy involves medications that support chemotherapy drugs and make them more effective or eliminate the elements of the cancer cells that are not affected by chemotherapy.  

Types of Red Blood Cell Disorders

Anemias, caused by a reduced number of red blood cells or the improper functionality of red blood cells, is one of the most common types of blood disorders. American Society of Hematology reveals that more than 3 million Americans battle with anemia. The most common types of anemia are:

Pregnancy anemia – when the demand for red blood cells increases from the development of the baby in the womb

Iron-deficiency anemia – when the body fails to absorb iron properly or is iron deficient

Inherited hemolytic anemias – when the breaking and destruction of red blood cells happens at a greater rate than their development

Non-inherited hemolytic anemia – when an illness, injury, or medication causes the abnormal breaking and destruction of red blood cells in the bloodstream.

Vitamin-deficiency anemias – it usually results from low dietary intake of folate and vitamin B-12

Aplastic anemias – when the production of blood cells from the bone marrow lessens or stops.

Treatment and Diagnosis

The cause of anemia is usually apparent such as an infection or an injury. However, if it isn’t, a doctor can assess anemia by:

• Conducting a physical exam
• Reviewing the family and individual medical history
• Doing biopsy or bone marrow aspiration
• Carrying out different blood tests, including reticulocyte count, complete blood counts, and peripheral blood smears

The treatment for red blood cell disorders depends on their causes but usually includes:

• Dietary change
• Blood transfusion
• Surgery
• Medication to stimulate the production of new red blood cells and bone marrow

Types of Platelet Cell Disorders

Hemophilia

A genetic health condition is caused by a defective or low number of clotting factors in an individual’s blood. Individuals battling this disorder bleed more excessively or longer, both internally and externally, compared to people without hemophilia.

According to National Hemophilia Foundation, this blood disorder usually passes down to children from their parents, but one-third of Americans with this condition develop it spontaneously. This blood disorder is among one of the better-known blood conditions. However, it’s still considered rare as it only develops in around 1 in 5,000 live births.

Von Willebrand Disease

A lack of von Willebrand factor (VWF), the substance that enables platelets to form clots by sticking together, causes this blood disorder. This condition isn’t quite fatal as most cases of von Willebrand disease are relatively mild, and individuals battling it may only require treatment if they undergo surgery or are injured. 

The majority of platelet disorders cause a reduction in the platelet count or compromise their function. However, some platelet disorders can also increase the overall platelet count in the blood.

Treatment and Diagnosis

The diagnosis and inspection of platelet conditions are usually carried out by:  

• Conducting a physical exam
• Blood tests
• Reviewing family and individual medical history

The treatment for blood clotting disorders usually includes replacement therapy (doctors give infusions containing the clotting factors that are lacking to the patient).

Additional therapies may include:

• Antifibrinolytic medication – this type of medication helps in preventing blood clots from breaking down
• Desmopressin –is a synthetic hormone that helps with the release of factor VIII and von Willebrand factor
• Birth control medications – is only prescribed to women and helps reduce blood loss from menstrual cycles

Additional treatment options may include:

• Corticosteroids to help slow down the platelet destruction
• Blood transfusions
• Spleen removal surgery in severe cases
• Immunoglobulins that block the immune system

Symptoms of a Blood Disorder

The symptoms of a blood disorder depend on what part of the organ or blood is affected. The extent of the condition and severity can also vary the symptoms. However, most people with significant blood disorders usually experience the general feeling of not feeling well for no apparent reason. 

Some general signs of white blood cell disorders are:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Exhaustion for no apparent reason
• Wounds that are slow to heal or don’t heal at all
• Frequent infections

Some signs of red blood cell disorders are:

• shortness of breath
• unexplained exhaustion
• rapid heartbeat
• dizziness or light-headedness
• difficulty remembering or concentrating
• paleness
• muscle weakness

Some signs of clotting and platelet disorders are:

• difficulty forming blood clots at wounds
• difficulty controlling bleeding
• injuries that keep re-opening or are slow to heal
• unexplainable bruising of the skin
• Skin that bruises easily
• unexplainable bleeding from the gums, nose, urogenital system, or gastrointestinal system

Various blood disorders affect different components of the blood, which are red blood cells, white blood cells, and plasma. Symptoms for these blood disorders may vary depending upon the type of disorder a person is battling from.

Treatment also varies depending upon the severity and type of the condition but often includes radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

Suppose expert physicians and doctors suspect you to have e blood disorder. In that case, they probably will ask you questions about your and your family’s medical history and prescribe some blood tests initially.

These blood tests will reveal if your blood counts look healthy and lay in the normal range. Doctors may also prescribe some genetic tests and, in more severe cases, might examine and test your bone marrow since it can produce new blood cells. A primary care doctor might prescribe some tests to be certain about your condition. Still, more severe or diagnosed blood disorder cases are usually consulted and treated by expert hematologists, the doctors who specialize in treating blood disorders.

Blood tests are the primary and most crucial diagnosis method when it comes to the diagnosis of any blood-related disorder. An inaccurate or nonreliable blood test report can entirely change the course of your treatment which may lead to wrong diagnosis or ineffective treatment. Always make sure to have health examinations and medical tests conducted by reliable and certified medical labs. This will help you greatly with proper diagnosis and effective treatment.

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