Clinical and Cell Surface Marker Characterization

The immunologic surface markers on guished from benign lymphocytosis by surlymphocytes and clinical characteristics of face marker criteria. In untreated CLL, sur35 patients with established ( stages 0-4) face marker characteristics are stable with CLL with absolute lymphocyte counts time and predominantly reflect expansion > 1 5,000/cu mm were compared to those of clones expressing only B cell markers; of a group of 25 patients with CLL in an however, small increases of blood T cells early or preleukemic phase (counts of are often seen. Surface markers are a <15,000/cu mm). We found a monosimple and clinically useful tool for declonal B cell proliferation in most cases in fining and characterizing the preleukemic the latter group, in spite of the paucity of phase of CLL and its ultimate progression clinical and laboratory findings. Furtherto established CLL. more, early CLL can readily be distin-