leukemia causes | Evolution of chronic lymphoid leukemia

Evolution of chronic lymphoid leukemia



What are the causes and risk factors for chronic lymphoid leukemia?
No cause or risk factor for chronic lymphoid leukemia (LLC) has been formally identified.

A family predisposition may be suspected in some cases. Indeed, the relatives of a patient with LLC are more likely to suffer from a disease called lymphocytosis monoclonal B, a condition close to the LLC but where the blood level of abnormal B lymphocytes is insufficiently high to make a diagnosis From LLC.

On average, in 3.5% of people over 40 years of age, monoclonal lymphocytosis B is observed in 13% of patients with CLL. In addition, this disease slightly increases the risk of developing chronic lymphocytic leukemia: After 25 years of monoclonal lymphocytosis B, a quarter of those infected develop an LLC.

Can chronic lymphocytic leukemia be prevented?
No measures to prevent chronic lymphocytic leukemia have been identified to date.


How is chronic lymphocytic leukemia evolving?
The evolution of chronic lymphoid leukemia (LLC) follows a so-called "three-thirds" pattern:

In one-third of patients, LLC is diagnosed at a low stage and will not evolve, even in the absence of treatment;
In one-third of patients, the LLC is diagnosed at a low stage but will evolve after several years, requiring treatment in about half of them;
In a third of patients, the LLC is diagnosed at an advanced stage that justifies the relatively fast implementation of treatment.
Today, in France, the survival rate five years after the diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia is greater than 80%, all forms combined.

Stages of evolution of chronic lymphoid leukemia
According to the results of the complementary examinations, the doctors classify the chronic lymphoid leukemia according to three stages (so-called "Binet" classification):

Stage a corresponds to an increase in the number of B lymphocytes, with no other blood abnormalities, with no or very limited presence of swollen lymph nodes. Three-quarters of the patients are diagnosed at stage A.
Stage B corresponds to an increase in the number of B lymphocytes, with no other blood abnormalities, but associated with swollen lymph nodes in more than three regions of the body or a large spleen.
Stage C corresponds to an increase in the number of B lymphocytes associated with other blood abnormalities: decrease in the number of red blood cells or platelets. Only a small minority of patients are diagnosed at stage C.
The treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia takes into account the stage at which it is diagnosed.