title: Frequency of monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis in relatives of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis is a symptom free condition characterized by the circulation of small clonal population of B lymphocytes in peripheral blood (less than 5x10(9)/L) expressing an immunophenotype similar to chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Different studies based on big hospital series have manifested a higher risk in subjects with monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis to progress to a chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The behavior of this hematologic entity is unknown therefore its frequency in sporadic chronic lymphocytic leukemia patient relatives was determined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Transversal descriptive study, 8 color flow cytometry was performed using two of the tubes of the Euro Flow recommended panel, with modifications, for the diagnose of chronic lymphoproliferative disorders of B lymphocytes; besides, a fluorescence in situ hybridization was performed. univariate and bivariate analyses of the information were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis frequency found in 51 analyzed relatives was 2%, it was a female participant, 59 years old, with a total leukocyte count of 7.7x10(9)/L and a B lymphocyte count of 0.124x10(9)/L; from these, 0.04x10(9)/L were clonal cells with restrictions of the kappa light chain. Rearrangements of the IGH gene (14q32) were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis was detected in one relative of a patient with sporadic chronic lymphocytic leukemia in a frequency similar to the one reported in general population.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad de Córdoba. Monteria, Colombia.
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Villegas Gracia
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina Universidad CES. Medellin, Colombia.
authors.forename: Catalina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franco Alzate
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina Universidad de Antioquia. Medellin, Colombia.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rendón Henao
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina Universidad de Antioquia. Medellin, Colombia.
authors.forename: José Domingo
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Torres Hernández
authors.affiliation: Escuela Microbiología. Universidad de Antioquia. Medellin, Colombia.
authors.forename: Patricia Elena
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Jaramillo Arbelaez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D008218:Lymphocytosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: B cells; Monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis; chronic lymphocytic leukemia; flow cytometry