[Mechanisms of cytopenia in chronic lymphoid leukemia: significance for prognosis].

From a retrospective analysis of 117 cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia with anemia and/or thrombocytopenia studied by isotopic methods to determine the mechanism(s) of cytopenia, the following conclusions could be drawn: peripheral hyperdestruction is the only or main cause in 60% of the thrombocytopenias and in 30% of anemias; the prognosis (survival at three years) is significantly better in patients with hyperdestruction than in those with cytopenia due to cell production defect; the choice of therapy should be guided by the mechanism of cytopenia. An analysis of the mechanism of anemia and thrombocytopenia should therefore be included in prospective protocols, and the therapy protocol design should be modified according to this mechanism.