The symptoms of hairy cell leukemia can be general and resemble other illnesses. Patients may feel discomfort on the upper left side of their abdomen because of an enlarged spleen. They may also experience weight loss and a loss of general well-being.
Complications may result from decreased blood cell counts, including anemia (low red cell count), thrombocytopenia (deficiency of platelets) and an increased risk of infection (deficiency of white cells). Unexplained bruising may be the result of a platelet deficiency. Patients may experience a fever or chills, indicating an infection.
