title: Development of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in a patient with polycythaemia vera.
abstract: A 73-year-old patient who had polycythaemia vera (PV), and who 6 years later developed chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CCL) is described. 2 years after the appearance of CLL, the polycythaemic phase showed a remission following treatment with phlebotomy and busulfan. CLL did not make all the characteristics of PV disappear: leucocyte alkaline phosphatase and fibrosis of the bone marrow remained increased and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate remained low. The abnormal lymphocytes were B-cells and had the peculiarity that most of their nuclei showed a deep cleft, and some were bilobed. Chromosomal studies of the bone marrow showed the presence of a metacentric chromosome in the C-group, while the karyotype of the peripheral blood was normal. This case is described because of the rarity of the coexistence of these 2 diseases in the same patient.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011087:Polycythemia Vera / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes