title: Multiple myeloma terminating in lymphocytic leukemia with B-lymphocyte membrane markers.
abstract: The development of lymphocytic leukemia with a rapidly fatal clinical course is reported in a patient with kappa light-chain multiple myeloma treated with alkeran. The leukemic cells lacked the ultrastructural features of plasma cells but bore readily detectable B-cell markers and resembled lymphocytes under the light, transmission, and scanning electron microscopes. The leukemic phase is perhaps best defined as lymphocytic and probably represents a variant of plasma cell leukemia, in which the cells showed a degree of dedifferentiation from plasma cells to B lymphocytes. The possible relation between these 2 proliferative processes is discussed and the nature of leukemias developing in cases of plasma cell myeloma is briefly reviewed.
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D012397:Rosette Formation
chemical_list: D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell