complications

Last reviewed 01/2018

CLL may be complicated by:

  • immune mediated cytopaenias:
    • autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
      • seen in 5 - 10 % of cases
      • prevalence increases with more advance disease
    • autoimmune thrombocytopenia
    • pure red cell aplasia
      • is associated with reticulocytopenia and the absence of erythroid precursors in the bone marrow
      • seen in 1% to 6% of patients
    • therapy related autoimmunity
      • alkylating agents, radiotherapy, and purine analogues may be responsible
  • infections
    • according to the estimates, up to 70% of patients will develop infections
  • second malignancies
    • Kaposi sarcoma, malignant melanoma, cancers of the larynx and lung, brain cancer, and cancers of the stomach and bladder are seen in up to 11% of CLL patients
  • disease transformation
    • Richter syndrome - 5-10% of cases
    • prolymphocytic leukemia

Reference:

Related pages:

autoimmune haemolytic anaemia

autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura

Evan's syndrome

Sjogren's syndrome

Richter's syndrome