Unusual Bleeding
One of the symptoms of certain types of MDS is unusual bleeding. This occurs when the bone marrow lacks an adequate amount of platelets, a condition known as thrombocytopenia. When a person has thrombocytopenia, they not only bleed easily, but the bleeding also continues without stopping. The reason for this is that without enough platelets, the blood is unable to clot properly. A person with thrombocytopenia and specific types of MDS will have a platelet count below 150,000 per micro-liter of blood.
Petechiae and Bruises
Petechiae are small, red-purple spots that appear in random clusters on the skin. This condition can be caused by Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a disorder affecting the bone marrow. Even if you haven’t experienced any physical trauma, you may notice that you bruise more easily than normal. These marks occur due to minor internal bleeding, which happens when the capillaries or vessels break. Since Myelodysplastic Syndrome often leads to a low platelet count in the bone marrow, internal bleeding can occur as frequently as external bleeding.