Automated assessment of lymphoid cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: correlation with prognostic features

In order to correlate the presence of large unstained cells (LUC) with clinical staging and prognosis, a quantitative cytometric analysis of leucocyte popula-tions from 88 patients with B-CLL was performed us-ing a Technicon H 6000 multichannel automated flow system. The results showed a significant increase in LUC num-ber, in the percentage of LUC to white cells and LUC to lymphocyte ratio in stage II (according to Rai classification) and in stage B (according to Work-shop on CLL staging system) patients. Our data analysis further revealed that chemothe-rapy was more effective in reducing the LUC popu-lation than that of small lymphocytes. Finally, an in-crease in LUC count and percentage was found to coincide with deterioration of clinical status. These data lead us to suggest that a high number of LUC, in patients with CLL, may represent an unfavou-rable prognostic factor.