Wbc fluctuation

[Lela1212]

Dear CLL friends,

last Monday I had appointment at my haematologist and did a blood test and the level of my Wbc was reduced from 28000 to 18000. Is it just a fluctuation of its number? Has it happened to anyone of you? Thank you for your answers and best wishes to all!!!

[JigFettler Volunteer]

It happens! Did with me during WnW. It's the trend you need to watch. Over 6 months. Spontaneous resolution of CLL v unlikely.

Jig

[Lela1212 in reply to JigFettler]

Thank you ; )

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

Further to Jig's answer, you need to just look at the lymphocyte count contribution to your WBC, because all the different white blood cell counts vary up and down. CLL cells (clonal B-Lymphocytes) eventually come to dominate the lymphocyte count, but there can still be dramatic swings even larger than what you've observed in the lymphocyte count. I've personally seen bigger changes in tests taken a month apart and significant changes similar to what you've reported in my lymphocyte count on a day to day basis during hospital stays.

CLL specialists don't look at how fast the lymphocyte count is changing (doubling time) until it exceeds 30 (,000) because of this "noise".

There is around a 1% chance of having a spontaneous remission in CLL, but you'd need to see a significant and sustained improvement in your lymphocytes and symptoms to qualify. Spontaneous remissions seem to be much more likely if you are IGHV mutated.

Neil

[Lela1212 in reply to AussieNeil]

Dear Neil,

thank you for your answer. Generally, I 'm feeling better, but I also think that's just a fluctuation. There are 2 values of lymphocytes, one is 68.80, and the other is 12.40. I suppose you ve been refering to the second one. In the previos test, 3 months ago, they were 70 and the second one 20. I really don't know much about CLL so thank you for illuminating me. 😊😉

Best wishes to you too!!!

Ljerka

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator in reply to Lela1212]

The white blood cell counts and percentages are presented in a section termed the differential. It's the counts (signified usually by #) that are important for us, but doctors tend to look at the percentages (%) for healthy people. I suspect that in your case the higher figures (68.8 and 70) are the percentages and the lower numbers, which you need to monitor, are the absolute counts.

Neil

[Lela1212 in reply to AussieNeil]

Thank you, Neil 😍