Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Epidemiology

Incidence of up to 20/100,000 per year

median age of onset is 70 years

Accumulation of lymphocytes leads to:

Dysfunctional lymphocytes lead to:

Labs show an elevated WBC count, with lymphocytes above 5

smear cells may be present

flow cytometry demonstrates B lymphocytes with CD5+ (T cell marker) present

CLL is an accumulation of monoclonal lymphocytes due to decreased apoptosis

Early treatment does not prolong survival.

Chemotherapy may be used in asymptomatic people.

CLL is an indolent disease. Many people die with it, not of it. Survival is 10 years with early stage disease.

Richter's transformation to lymphoma is possible with CLL.