title: Overview of monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis.
abstract: Monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL) has been the subject of more intensive investigation for the last 10 years. The increased presence of MBL in unaffected, first-degree relatives with familial chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) suggest that it is surrogate marker for early disease. In normal population studies, MBL is found to be increased in ageing subjects. Consensus criteria for the diagnosis of MBL have been proposed. The differential diagnosis has been further clarified and the prevalence of MBL is most prominent in the elderly. The aetiology of MBL is unknown but probably involves immune mechanism of senescence or altered response. Environmental health studies suggest that exposure to certain toxins may lead to MBL but further work is needed. MBL is a precursor to CLL but may also regress, remain stable or progress to clinical CLL.
authors.affiliation: Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA. gemarti@helix.nih.gov
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marti
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abbasi
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Raveche
authors.forename: Andy C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Rawstron
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ghia
authors.forename: Therese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aurran
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Caporaso
authors.forename: Youn K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Vogt
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018450:Disease Progression; D004782:Environmental Health; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D008218:Lymphocytosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D010375:Pedigree