Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

Your Path

  • Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

Etiology

  • Clonal proliferation of B cells

Risk Factors

  • Age > 60
  • Male sl > female
  • Agent orange exposure

Symptoms

  • Bleeding
  • Infections
  • Often asympotmatic x years→ picked up on incidental labs (~50% of patients)
  • Fever, sweats, adenopathy, fatigue, weight loss
  • Can transform into acute lymphoma (diffuse large B-cell or Hodgkins) called Richter's transformation→ acute fever, sweats, sudden increase in adenopathy
  • Can develop auto-immune hemolytic anemia or thrombocytopenia

Physical Exam Findings

  • Splenomegaly
  • Hepatomegaly
  • As progresses→ increased adenopathy (peripheral and central)

Tests