Low platelet counts in leukemia patients can lead to which of the following?

Low platelet counts, known as thrombocytopenia, are a common issue in leukemia patients and critically affect the body's ability to properly clot blood. Platelets are essential for the coagulation process, and when their levels are decreased, the risk for bleeding increases significantly.

Patients with low platelet counts commonly experience symptoms such as easy bruising, which is the result of minor injuries leading to bleeding beneath the skin. This can manifest as ecchymosis, which is more extensive bruising, and petechiae, which are small red or purple spots on the skin caused by bleeding that occurs when capillaries under the skin break. The presence of these symptoms indicates that the body's coagulation system is compromised, making it difficult to form clots that would normally prevent excessive bleeding.

Other options do not relate directly to the specific consequences of low platelet counts. Hypoxia and dizziness might arise due to a variety of reasons in cancer patients but are not directly linked to low platelet counts. Respiratory distress and hypertension with fever typically relate to other complications or conditions rather than the effects of low platelets. Thus, bruising, ecchymosis, and bleeding petechiae are indeed the key consequences of thrombocytopenia in individuals affected by leukemia.