title: Rheumatoid arthritis and B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: The association between lymphoproliferate malignancies, especially lymphoma, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been confirmed by several studies. However; there are few reports of RA patients who developed B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) and vice versa. We report a patient with B-CLL who developed RA and another with RA who presented with B-CLL during follow-up. We discuss the incidence of B-CLL among the RA population and the possible interaction of the pathogenetic mechanisms of these two entities.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ioannina Medical School, Greece.
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Voulgari
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vartholomatos
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaiafas
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Bourantas
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Drosos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015448:Leukemia, B-Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients