Problems with prognostic criteria in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia with special reference to DPP II assessment.

ABSTRACT

106 consecutive patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) were entered into prospective study with the aims of finding out whether a detailed clinical, biochemical, immunological and cytochemical examination might help to subclassify CLL with respect to prognosis. None of the biochemical and immunological parameters studied correlated either with the clinical stage of the disease according to Rai, or with further evolution of the disease. On the other hand, the results of cytochemical tests indicated that the reaction for DPP II (dipeptidylaminopeptidase) might be of prognostic value, because in patients with stable disease, significantly lower number of DPP II positive lymphocytes were found when compared with patients suffering from progressive disease. The authors also point out some short-comings of Rai's staging system in respect to its prognostic significance.