title: Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: only treat when symptomatic.
abstract: (1) Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia usually occurs after the age of 60. It is more common in men than in women. (2) Life expectancy of asymptomatic patients differs little from that of the general population, and simple monitoring is generally recommended. (3) Chlorambucil is the standard drug used to slow progression of symptomatic disease. Fludarabine is used if chlorambucil fails. (4) There is no evidence that combination cytotoxic therapy is any better than chlorambucil or fludarabine alone. (5) Alemtuzumab is not yet adequately evaluated. It may prolong survival by a few months, but only at the cost of sometimes serious side effects.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D002699:Chlorambucil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D002699:Chlorambucil; D014740:Vidarabine