Chronic lymphatic leukaemia
"The prognosis depends on the stage of the disease and the complications that may arise".
DR. ANA ALFONSO PIÉROLA
SPECIALIST. HEMATOLOGY AND HEMOTHERAPY DEPARTMENT
What is chronic lymphocytic leukaemia?
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is a type of blood cancer that develops from B lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that is key to the immune system. It is characterised by the progressive accumulation of these lymphocytes in the blood, bone marrow and organs such as the lymph nodes, liver and spleen.
It is the most common leukaemia in Western countries, accounting for approximately 30% of cases. It occurs most commonly in men over 60 years of age, with incidence increasing with age.
A PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
Second Opinion,
peace of mind
Request a second opinion from our professionals with great experience in the diagnosis and treatment of oncological diseases
In 3 days, without leaving home.
Symptoms of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
In many cases, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia has no symptoms and is detected by chance in a routine blood test. However, when the disease does manifest itself, it can cause a number of warning signs.
- Fever: May occur persistently or intermittently without a clear infectious cause.
- Fatigue (asthenia): Feeling of extreme fatigue that does not improve with rest.
- Frequent infections: Predisposition to infections such as pneumonia or shingles due to the altered immune system.
- Adenopathy: enlarged lymph nodes, especially in the neck, armpits or groin.
Do you have any of these symptoms?
If you suspect that you have any of the above symptoms,
you should consult a medical specialist for a diagnosis.
What are the causes of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia?
The aetiology of CLL remains unclear. While in other leukaemias there is a clear link to radiation or leukaemogenic chemicals, this has not been demonstrated in CLL. Only a clear familial incidence seems to have been established.Prognosis of chronic lymphatic leukaemia
The prognosis depends on the stage of the disease. There are cases with the same survival as a person of the same age without CLL. However, in other more advanced stages, depending on prognostic factors, survival may be considerably lower.
Survival will also depend on the complications that may arise in the course of this leukaemia. The most frequent are infections due to the fact that the disease itself produces a decrease in immunity, but also secondary to the reduction of the body's defences due to the treatments applied.
Other complications are autoimmune processes (haemolytic anaemia), the appearance of other tumour diseases (e.g. melanoma and lung cancer) and the transformation of CLL into another type of more aggressive lymphoproliferative syndrome.
How is chronic lymphocytic leukaemia diagnosed?
If chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is suspected, a bone marrow biopsy is essential. The study must be completed with a scan (to see the extent of the disease in the lymph nodes, liver and spleen).
It is also essential to carry out a cytogenetic study of the bone marrow, which has prognostic value. With all these data, the extension study (staging) of the disease is carried out. In CLL we usually use the Rai and Binet staging. In both, patients are divided into three groups: low-risk, intermediate-risk and high-risk.
Treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
The importance of correct staging is that each stage of the disease will be treated in one way or another. Thus, the cases with the best prognosis may not receive treatment; they should only undergo periodic controls.
In the event that the disease must be treated, until recently the most commonly used drugs were chlorambucil and/or prednisone. Currently, drugs such as fludarabine and other derivatives of purine analogues are being used with very good results.
New biological therapies are being used, such as the use of different monoclonal antibodies, like alemtuzumab or rituximab. Occasionally, bone marrow transplantation may be indicated in young patients.
What clinical trials do we have on Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia?
Advanced Therapies Unit
The Advanced Therapies Unit of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra develops cell therapies against cancer and other diseases of the immune system.
It is implemented by a highly specialised multidisciplinary team of nurses, together with doctors from all the specialties involved.
Where do we treat it?
IN NAVARRA AND MADRID
The Hematology and Hemotherapy Service of the
at the Clínica Universidad de Navarra
The Hematology Service of the Clinic, formed by specialists of recognized national and international prestige, has integrated molecular diagnostic techniques and the use of new personalized treatments in its assistance work, allowing a more precise and fast diagnosis of the hematological diseases.
The joint work of the medical staff and the researcher facilitates the development and application of the new treatments and at the same time the precise evaluation of the result of the treatments.
Why at the Clinica?
- Experts in the development of Cellular Therapy treatments.
- International reference center in lymphomas, multiple myeloma and monoclonal gammopathies.
- Experts in the diagnosis and treatment of hemorrhagic and thrombotic problems.
Our team of experts in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
