B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia, referred to as B-PLL, is a rare blood cancer. It is a more aggressive, but still treatable, form of leukemia.
Specifically, B-PLL is a prolymphocytic leukemia (PLL) that affects prolymphocytes – immature forms of B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes – in the peripheral blood, bone marrow, and spleen. It is an aggressive cancer that presents poor response to treatment.
Mature lymphocytes are infection-fighting immune system cells. B-lymphocytes have two responsibilities:
Production of antibodies – In response to antigens, B-lymphocytes produce and release antibodies specific to foreign substances in order to aid in their identification and elimination phagocytes
Generation of memory cells – Interactions between antibodies and antigens allow B-lymphocytes to establish cellular memories, otherwise known as immunities that allow the body to respond more rapidly and efficiently to previously encountered species
It is categorized as a lymphoproliferative disorder due to the excessive production of lymphocytes, in B-PLL there is excess production of B-prolymphocytes by the bone marrow. These immature lymphocytes are not normally found in the blood; part of their maturation process is being programmed to produce antibodies against foreign material prior to their departure from the bone marrow. In B-PLL, malignant B-prolymphocytes disrupt the adaptive capabilities of the immune system due to the lack of mature B-lymphocytes.
It has been suggested that some cases may represent a variant of mantle cell lymphoma.
This type of leukemia is characterized by:
More than 55% of circulating cells in peripheral blood (red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets collectively) are prolymphocytes. Generally, prolymphocyte proportion exceeds 90%
Minimal or absence of lymphadenopathy – abnormalities in size, number or consistency of lymph nodes
Splenomegaly - Abnormal enlargement of the spleen
High white blood cell count
B-symptoms – Fever, night sweats and/or weight loss
Similar to other leukemias, B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia is often asymptomatic.
This page is automatically generated and may contain information that is not correct, complete, up-to-date, or relevant to your search query. The same applies to every other page on this website. Please make sure to verify the information with EPFL's official sources.
Hematologic diseases are disorders which primarily affect the blood & blood-forming organs. Hematologic diseases include rare genetic disorders, anemia, HIV, sickle cell disease & complications from chemotherapy or transfusions. Hemoglobinopathies (congenital abnormality of the hemoglobin molecule or of the rate of hemoglobin synthesis) Sickle cell disease Thalassemia Methemoglobinemia Anemias (lack of red blood cells or hemoglobin) Iron-deficiency anemia Megaloblastic anemia Vitamin B12 deficiency Pernicio
Rituximab, sold under the brand name Rituxan among others, is a monoclonal antibody medication used to treat certain autoimmune diseases and types of cancer. It is used for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (in non-geriatric patients), rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, pemphigus vulgaris, myasthenia gravis and Epstein–Barr virus-positive mucocutaneous ulcers. It is given by slow injection into a vein.
A splenectomy is the surgical procedure that partially or completely removes the spleen. The spleen is an important organ in regard to immunological function due to its ability to efficiently destroy encapsulated bacteria. Therefore, removal of the spleen runs the risk of overwhelming post-splenectomy infection, a medical emergency and rapidly fatal disease caused by the inability of the body's immune system to properly fight infection following splenectomy or asplenia.
Acute leukemia has a high mortality rate of approximately 50%, and current methods are not effective in predicting disease progression and relapse. To improve our understanding of hematopoiesis and develop new markers for predicting disease relapse in dead ...
Inflammation stands as a dynamic and intricate biological process, promoting vital defence mechanisms against harmful stimuli, including infections and injuries, to drive pathogen clearance and healing. On one hand, these responses can manifest acutely and ...
EPFL2024
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a B cell malignancy and represents the most common leukemia in adults within the Western world. This disease mainly affects the elderly, with a median age of diagnosis over 70. The disease course is highly variable amo ...