title: Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in Norway--incidence and prognostic markers at diagnosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The clinical courses of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) are very heterogeneous. Biological markers that provide good prognostic information at the time of diagnosis are available. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of these markers in a population-based material.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biological markers were examined using standard laboratory methods after obtaining an informed consent statement from patients diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in the period 1.10.2007-31.12.2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 388 new cases of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia during the study period, and 236 patients (61%) were included in the study. Of 222 patients, 178 (80%) were in Binet's stage A, 26 (12%) in stage B and 18 (8%) in stage C. The V(H) gene was mutated in 69% and unmutated in 31% of cases. Cytogenetic aberrations were found in 68%: del(13q14) in 48%, trisomy 12 in 13%, del(11q22) in 10% and del(17p13) in 7%. CD38-positive disease was found in 28% of the patients. The V(H) gene was mutated in 67% of the patients in Binet's stage A, and in the majority of these a mutated V(H) gene was associated with non-expression of CD38 and del(13q14).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At the time of diagnosis, most patients are asymptomatic and do not need treatment. The biological markers that indicate a favourable prognosis occur most frequently in this group. Markers that indicate a poor prognosis occur more frequently in the group that has symptoms at the time of diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Avdeling for blodsykdommer, Oslo universitetssykehus, Norway. geir.tjonnfjord@oslo-universitetssykehus.no
authors.forename: Geir E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Tjønnfjord
authors.forename: Bernt E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Ly
authors.forename: Tom Børge
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Johannesen
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tierens
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beiske
authors.forename: Sverre
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heim
authors.forename: Viggo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jønsson
mesh_terms: D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D006801:Humans; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics*; D015994:Incidence; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1