title: [Monocytoid B-lymphocytic leukemia].
abstract: The recently described monocytoid B-cell lymphoma is a low-grade lymphoma presenting most frequently in elderly women and commonly associated with autoimmune diseases. Leukaemic expression of this disease has been reported in advanced stages. A case of monocytoid lymphocytosis without lymph node enlargement is presented herein. A 60-year old woman complaining of easy bruises was found to have a 2-cm splenomegaly. Her laboratory data included the following: haemoglobin, 125 g/L; haematocrit, 0.35 L/L; white cell count, 29 x 10(9)/L with 32% PMN, 3% stabs, 2% myelocytes, 1% metamyelocytes, 30% lymphocytes and 32% atypical mononucleated cells showing wide, pale cytoplasm neatly contoured and oval nucleus with monocytoid features. The basal coagulation study showed prothrombin 50%, APTT 40 seconds, fibrinogen 68 mg/dL and FDP between 80 and 160 ng/dL. Splenomegaly without lymph-node enlargement was found on CT scan. The bone-marrow biopsy showed a 68% monocytoid lymphocytic infiltration, acid-phosphatase positive and tartrate-sensitive, without fibrosis. Bone-marrow and peripheral immunophenotype showed those cells to be CD22, CD 19 and CD11 positive, while T and CD25 markers were absent. The patient was treated with alpha-2b interferon at a dose of 3MU three times a week for 6 months, with general improvement and regression of the leukaemic expression. Eleven months after diagnosis she died of a central nervous system haemorrhage. The morphological, immunological and cytochemical features of the monocytoid lymphocytes in this case are commented, along with their variable behaviour. A review of the literature is also carried out, attention being laid on the onset and the response to therapy of B-cell monocytoid lymphomas as the singularity of this case lies on its exclusively leukaemic onset. It is concluded that an interrelationship between monocytoid B-lymphocytic leukaemia and B-cell monocytoid lymphoma might possibly exist, such as that between chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and diffuse lymphocytic lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: Policlínico Bancario, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Bezares
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Rodríguez Fuchs
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Celebrin
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cueva
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arra
mesh_terms: D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015448:Leukemia, B-Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D011693:Purpura / Q000209:etiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
vernacular_title: Leucemia de linfocitos monocitoides B.