Medical Importance
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common form of
leukemia. Patients can live many years with CLL, and may be followed by
internists or family physicians. Thus it is key to know complications
that may occur in patients with CLL.
Obectives
- Describe the presenting features of CLL,
including the typical age at presentation, the most common symptoms,
two major physical exam findings and typical blood counts.
- Describe
the predominant leukemic cell in the blood of patients with CLL, and
distinguish this from the leukemic cells that can be seen in the blood
of patients with ALL, AML, and CML.
- Describe the staging of CLL, and features that correlate with a better or worse prognosis.
- Describe complications of CLL that exemplify the immune dysfunction associated with this disease.
- Name at least four symptoms and/or complications of CLL that are an indication for treatment.
- Compare
and contrast CLL and CML in terms of molecular mechanism, age at onset,
symptoms, physical exam findings, typical blood counts, treatment, and
outcome.
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