title: New insights into monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis.
abstract: Monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL) is a premalignant condition characterized by the presence of less than 5000/μL circulating clonal B cells in otherwise healthy individuals. Three subcategories have been identified according to the immunophenotypic features: CLL-like, CD5(+) atypical, and CD5(-) MBL. CLL-like MBL is by far the most frequent and best studied category and further divided in low-count [LC] and high-count [HC] MBL, based on a cutoff value of 500/μL clonal B cells. LC-MBL typically remains stable and probably does not represent a truly premalignant condition, but rather an age-related immune senescence. On the other hand, HC-MBL is closely related to CLL-Rai0, bearing similar immunogenetic profile, and is associated with an annual risk of progression to CLL requiring therapy at a rate of 1.1%. Currently there are no reproducible factors for evaluating the risk of progression to CLL. CD5(-) MBL is characterized by an immunophenotype consistent with marginal zone origin and displays many similarities with marginal zone lymphomas (MZL), mainly the splenic MZL. The cutoff value of 5000/μL clonal B cells cannot probably be applied in CD5(-) MBL, requiring a new definition to describe those cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, University Hospital, University of Crete, P.O. BOX 1352, 71110 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kalpadakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Athens Medical Center-Psychikon Branch, 11525 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Gerassimos A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Pangalis
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Athens Medical Center-Psychikon Branch, 11525 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Sotirios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sachanas
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, University of Athens, Laikon General Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Theodoros P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Vassilakopoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, University Hospital, University of Crete, P.O. BOX 1352, 71110 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Stavroula
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kyriakaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Penelope
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Korkolopoulou
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Athens Medical Center-Psychikon Branch, 11525 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Efstathios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koulieris
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Athens Medical Center-Psychikon Branch, 11525 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moschogiannis
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Athens Medical Center-Psychikon Branch, 11525 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Xanthi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yiakoumis
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Athens Medical Center-Psychikon Branch, 11525 Athens, Greece ; Department of Haematology, 401 Military Hospital, 11525 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Pantelis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tsirkinidis
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Propedeutics, University of Athens, Laikon General Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Marie-Christine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kyrtsonis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Levidou
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, University Hospital, University of Crete, P.O. BOX 1352, 71110 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Helen A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Papadaki
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Propedeutics, University of Athens, Laikon General Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Panayiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Panayiotidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, University of Athens, Laikon General Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Angelopoulou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018956:CD5 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008218:Lymphocytosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D018956:CD5 Antigens