Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia is the most common type of leukemia cancer. Chronic Lymphocytic is abbreviated as CLL. It is also called Chronic Lymphoid Leukemia as it originates in lymphoid lineages. This type of leukemia is mostly seen in adult, generally in people around 50 years old. Technically it may appear in people of all age groups including children. Children may inherit this disease from their parent.

The word “Chronic” refers to the fact that this type of leukemia does not become fatal quickly. It is not necessary to treat CLL at early stages. In fact, CLL is monitored for long time (may be for years), and treated only if it starts to show any damage to body. CLL does not cause damage to body in quick time.

Lymphoid cells, a mature form of stems cells, are the origin of the production of leukocytes or white blood cells. Three white cells types including T cells, B cells and NK cells are produced from lymphoid cells. All these types are components of immune system. Our focus is no B-Cells. B-cells are root cause for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The function of B cells is very important. B cells produce antibodies for immune system. Antibodies detect harmful substances in body like virus and bacteria. Antibodies not only detect harmful objects but also remove these objects. Damage in DNA of B cells causes CLL. As a result of this, excessive production of abnormal B cells takes place. These abnormal B cells fail to produce antibodies, exposing body to harmful substance and diseases. The growth of these abnormal white cells is not that much rapid. But in long time, these cells may replace most of the normal platelets, white blood cells and red blood cells.

At very early stage, CLL does not show any prominent leukemia symptoms. At initial stage, CLL is only detected in routine CBC which points out increased count of white blood cells. Normal white cells count is between 4000 and 1000. With the passage of time, CLL shows symptoms like swelling in lymph nodes, swallow spleen and liver. Patient also feels other leukemia symptoms like fatigue, loss of appetite, bruising, and anemia.visit CLL symptoms for more detail on CLL symptoms.

The diagnosis of CLL can be done with CBC, which shows count of white blood cells. B cells count greater than normal in blood, bone marrow or in other tissues indicate chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Studies have shown that their in no advantage to treat CLL at initial stage. Patients with CLL are examined time to time and treatment is initiated when CLL starts to turn fatal. It may take more than a decade. When treatment starts, its focus is to treat the symptoms of CLL rather than a complete cure. Treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biological therapy and bone marrow transplant.

November 15, 2010 路 admin 路 No Comments
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