title: Lymphopenia predicts preclinical relapse in the routine follow-up of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
abstract: The absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) has been reported to predict relapse in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We performed the present study to determine whether the ALC could identify preclinical relapse during routine follow-up. Among all 148 patients analyzed, 39 patients exhibited relapse. Patients without relapse had a higher ALC compared with those with proven relapse at the time of relapse as well as 1 and 3 months before relapse. Low ALC (< 950/μL) at 1 and 3 months before relapse had a positive predictive value of 74.2% and 69.0% and a negative predictive value of 86.3% and 84.0%, respectively, to predict relapse. Low ALC at both 1 and 3 months before relapse was significantly associated with relapse by univariate and multivariate analysis. Our data suggest the potential of lymphopenia to detect preclinical relapse in DLBCL. This may help to identify patients requiring salvage chemotherapy at the time of minimal disease rather than clinically overt relapse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University , Guangzhou , China.
authors.forename: Xiaolei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Yongqiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Fen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.forename: Muchen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Xiaoxiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Ru
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; absolute lymphocyte count; follow-up; lymphopenia; relapse