Impaired Immune System???

[Faith50]

Diagnosed CLL a little less than 2 years ago, stage 0. I have no symptoms other than my blood work and slightly anemic. So my question is, does the CLL automatically make me at risk for "impaired immune system"? I keep seeing information about COVID-19 and people with impaired immune systems. I don't think I have an impaired immune system, but does CLL no mater what stage fall there?

[Hidden]

first of you have misfunctioning white blood cells. then however there are the components.

if you have a good neutrophil count and leukemia you are probably better of than someone with leukemia and low neutrophil count

[cllady01 Former Volunteer]

Faith, CLL is a cancer of the immune system--however, we are at different levels of immunity. My thought for anyone with CLL is stay safe and consider yourself as being immune compromised at some level. The risk of any infection, be it virus or bacteria is higher for CLL patients and esp. as we age. So keeping our selves safe from colds, flu, and now this specific virus is wise.

I don't know your age, but a fact of aging —and being past 50 years old, means we do not have the strong immune systems of the healthy young.

You are still stage 0, that is a good thing, you have not been treated, and are not now being treated, that is also a good thing. Your vulnerability to catching the virus is the same as any persons if you are exposed.

But your risk of having it be a severe outcome is not as high as those who are sick, are being treated, have been treated.

Do also consider also any other health problems you may have that would make you susceptible to difficulty fighting off an infection: lung, heart, diabetes, other cancers.

We are all in this state of trying to avoid exposure and your concern is our concern. Please know that we are here for any question you may have.

[KirbyBH]

I was diagnosed in 2005 and still am not immune deficient. I was told I had the "good kind" after genetic testing. My platelets and red blood cells are still normal. However, I am still not taking any chances with this Coronovirus and staying isolated with my husband.

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator in reply to KirbyBH]

Perhaps your neutrophils and immunoglobulins are still in the normal range, but please, make no mistake, you ARE immune compromised from the moment you have CLL. It's just a matter of degree. CLL cells exhibit a range of self protective mechanisms to ensure their survival, which has the effect of dampening down our immune system functionality. Otherwise our immune system surveillance for cancer cells would eliminate the CLL cells.

In addition to the impact on bone marrow and plasma cell production, which you thankfully presumably don't have, CLL cells can impact the T cell CD4 to CD8 ratio, suppress healthy B-cell and T helper cell function so we don't respond to infections or vaccinations well. They also drive T cells into a state of exhaustion, reducing their effectiveness in responding to infections and so on. I'm sorry to inform you that CLL is well described as a cancer of the immune system.

Neil

[Mazendudar]

I am in the exact same boat as you are and I asked the question; the reply I received from an MD who has CLL himself was : “ be careful, we are all immune compromised”, hope this helps.