Utility of laboratory tests in B-CLL patients in different clinical stages.

The study objective was to analyse the utility of laboratory tests performed in 30 patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) at different clinical stages. Laboratory tests included automated and microscopic assessment of peripheral blood and bone marrow counts as well as evaluation of leukaemic cells. Apart from the diagnostic and prognostic value of laboratory abnormalities such as clonal lymphocytosis with CD5+CD19+CD23+ phenotype, reduced erythrocyte parameters, thrombocytopenia or bone marrow infiltration by the neoplastic clone as well as low percentage of Gumprecht's shadows, low apoptotic activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes, and increased percentage of CD38- and ZAP-70 ± cells markedly correlate with the stage of disease progression. These results seem to confirm the diagnostic and prognostic significance of these parameters determined in routine laboratory tests in B-CLL patients.