How can you tell how many CLL cells are actually in your blood streams?

[Laura3mini]

My Absolute Lymphocyte Count is at 10214 cells/mm³ is that CLL? I calculated my WBC 16.5 plus LYMPHS% 61.9 %...

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

Bear in mind that the normal lymphocyte count (B, T and BK lymphocyte cells), can be up to 4 (thousand) depending on the lab reference range. Hence your monoclonal B cell tumour load in your blood is probably around 6 (thousand). That's pretty low, as specialists only start to take serious interest in lymphocyte doubling time when the absolute lymphocyte count exceeds 30 (thousand). Don't forget the tumour load in nodes, spleen and bone marrow, which typically exceeds that in the blood supply. That's why absolute lymphocyte blood counts can double when treated with BTK Inhibitors, such as Acalabrutinib and Ibrutinib.

Neil

[Laura3mini in reply to AussieNeil]

Thank you Neil.

Does that mean I pass the line of 5k to CLL stage 0?

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator in reply to Laura3mini]

The only way to be certain is to repeat the immunophenotype flow cytometry test, to confirm that the increase in the lymphocyte count outside of the reference range is due to CLL monoclonal B lymphocytes. The increase could be due to other causes.

Sorry, I hadn't appreciated that you were diagnosed with MBL 3 years ago. It would help if you added that background into your profile here: healthunlocked.com/profile/...

How have your lymphocyte counts varied since your diagnosis? It's not unusual for them to bounce around.

Neil