Significance of lymphocytosis in adults.
11/19 adults with a persistent increase in the total lymphocyte count, but with neither lymphodenopathy, hepatomegaly, nor splenomegaly, proved to have a monoclonal increase in B lymphocytes indicative of chronic lymphatic leukaemia (CLL). All remaining 8 patients had increased numbers of T-lymphocytes, more often of the helper than of the suppressor subsets. All the patients with a lymphocyte count in excess of 10 000/microliter, but only 5/13 patients with a lymphocyte count below 10 000/microliter had CLL. In adults a sustained lymphocytosis is thus not an adequate basis for the diagnosis of early CLL, which requires the demonstration of a monoclonal population. The T-lymphocytosis is likely to be reactive rather than neoplastic in nature.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D008218:Lymphocytosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II