Immuno-phenotype and proliferative response of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

This study examines the immunophenotypic profiles in both pretreated and treated CLL patients which could be useful from the prognosis point of view. Patients suffering from B CLL and having IgG markers were relatively more aggressive than cells bearing IgM phenotypes. Male predominance is observed in male/female ratio in this disease. B CLL showed heterogeneity by showing reactivity against various T cell markers such as CD5 (present on mature T cells) and also CD4 (T helper/inducer), CD8 (T suppressor/cytotoxic) and a very high percentage of Ia (HLA-DR). The proliferative response to cells to stimulation with PHA and PWM indicated that there is a primary defect in the capacity of these small lymphocytes to undergo a proliferative response due to an intrinsic defect in the B lymphocytes. This study also reflects a maturation arrest in the later developmental stage of B lymphopoiesis. The three findings which are novel are the difference in prognosis between IgG-IgM and IgG, the changes in T cell subsets and the mitogenic response.