title: Relationship between autoimmune phenomena and disease stage and therapy in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: The aim of this multicenter GIMEMA study was to correlate autoimmune complications (AIC) in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) with stage and therapy. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (129/194 cases) and autoimmune thrombocytopenia (35/194 cases) were typically present in advanced and multi-treated disease. Age over the median, stage C and first and second line therapy were identified as independent risk factors by multivariate analysis. In contrast, non-hematologic AIC (30/194 cases) and the presence of serological markers of autoimmunity were mostly observed in early B-CLL, suggesting different pathogenic mechanisms underlying hematologic and non-hematologic autoimmune phenomena in B-CLL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Padiglione Granelli, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Via F. Sforza 35 20122 Milan, Italy. wbarcel@policlinico.mi.it
authors.forename: Wilma
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Barcellini
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Capalbo
authors.forename: Rosa Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Agostinelli
authors.forename: Francesca Romana
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Mauro
authors.forename: Achille
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ambrosetti
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Calori
authors.forename: Agostino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cortelezzi
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laurenti
authors.forename: Enrico Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Pogliani
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pedotti
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Liso
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Girelli
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mandelli
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zanella
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000276:immunology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000276:immunology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents