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Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia is a disease in which too many
lymphocytes (white blood cells which fight infection) are
found in the body. Lymphocytes are white blood cells which
produce antibodies and which are vital parts of the body's
immune system.
Lymphocytes are made in the bone marrow and by other organs
of the lymph system (such as the spleen). Bone marrow is spongy
tissue inside the bones in the body, which makes red and white
blood cells and platelets.
In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, the developing lymphocytes
are too numerous and do not mature properly. The lymphocytes
may look normal, but they cannot fight infection correctly.
These immature lymphocytes are found in the blood and the
bone marrow, where they may crowd out other blood cells. They
also collect in the lymph tissues and make them swell.
There are several types of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia:
- Hairy Cell Leukemia (a chronic leukemia
arising from a type of lymphocyte with hair-like protrusions
on the cell surface; HCL is rare and accounts for only 2%
of all leukemias)
- Mantle Zone Leukemia
- Marginal Zone Leukemia
- Splenic Lymphoma
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Symptoms and Diagnosis
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia symptoms usually develop gradually.
Symptoms include shortness of breath when physically active,
weight loss, infections (sometimes recurrent), of the skin,
lungs, kidneys, or other sites.
To diagnose chronic lymphocytic leukemia the blood and, in
most cases, the marrow cells are examined. The white cell
count invariably increases in the blood. The increase is the
result of an increase in blood lymphocytes. A bone marrow
examination also will show a marked increase in the proportion
of lymphocytes in the marrow, often accompanied by some decrease
in the normal marrow cells.
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Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
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