Elsevier

Leukemia Research

Volume 33, Issue 3, March 2009, Pages 366-367
Leukemia Research

Guest Editorial
Non-hemic autoimmunity in CLL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leukres.2008.09.011Get rights and content

Abstract

Non-hemic autoimmune complications of chronic lymphocytic leukemia are very rare compared to autoimmune haemolytic anemia, which occurs in between 10% and 20% of patients and immune thrombocytopenia, which occurs in between 1% and 2% of patients. A clear relationship has only been established with three non-hemic syndromes: acquired angioedema, glomerulonephritis and paraneoplastic pemphigus. The first is a result of a secreted product of the tumor, but the last two seem to be a product of the disordered immune system, and may be triggered by treatment with purine analogues suggesting a mechanism involving regulatory T cells. Apart from Herpes Zoster infections, neurological syndromes are rare in CLL and most have been attributed to either leukemic infiltration of the CNS or progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.

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  • Cited by (21)

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