Relationship of lymphocyte anisocytosis in chronic lymphatic leukaemia to mouse red cell rosetting capacity and clinical stage.

In 34 patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia (CLL) the lymphocytes have been separated and sized using a C1000 Channelyzer. The modal volume and the volume range of the populations have been obtained and related to clinical stage and mouse red blood cell (MRBC) rosetting capacity. Over 1 year's observation with several estimations per patient there was no convincing drift towards increase in modal volume with deteriorating clinical status. The cell size of the CLL populations could vary from time to time in the same patient. The MRBC rosetting capacity varied greatly between estimations. The findings suggest that in CLL there is an oscillation in cell size in a given patient when tested at intervals.