What is changing in the natural history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

摘要: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In the last few years there has been a trend towards an improvement in overall survival of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Studies based on tumor registries general population or including referred to hematologic institutions have analyzed reasons for these changes. However, results need be validated independent series. DESIGN METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 518 CLL diagnosed at our institution between January 1970 and December 1998. this cohort we looked characteristics affecting natural history such as age sex distribution, stage diagnosis, probability impact disease status actuarial survival. Trends variables were after splitting whole series into three groups according period which diagnosis was made. Group I consisted 75 1979, group II 149 1980--1989, III composed 293 1991 RESULTS: Age distribution did not reflect different periods diagnosis. The proportion whom established low clinical (stage A) higher (72%) than (26.3% 50.3%, respectively) (p < 0.0001). Differences affected life-expectancy longer nineties (median survival, 93 months) those eighties 54 seventies 38 Finally, analyses by showed when dealing high risk category =0.005). INTERPRETATION CONCLUSIONS: decade enjoy best outcome, mostly result greater low-risk relatively group. It is clear whether changes represent true modifications CLL. At beginning third millennium continues fatal significant life-expectancy.