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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffChronic lymphocytic leukemia may cause complications such as:
- A switch to a more aggressive form of cancer. A small number of people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia may develop a more aggressive form of cancer called diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Doctors sometimes refer to this switch as Richter's syndrome.
- Frequent infections. People with chronic lymphocytic leukemia may experience frequent infections. In most cases, these infections are common infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract. But sometimes more serious infections can develop.
- Increased risk of other cancers. People with chronic lymphocytic leukemia have an increased risk of other types of cancer, including Kaposi's sarcoma, melanoma and cancers of the bladder, lung, stomach and throat.
References
- Montserrat E, et al. Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: A short overview. Annals of Oncology. 2008;19(suppl):vii320.
- Caligaris-Cappio F, et al. Novel insights in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: Are we getting closer to understanding the pathogenesis of the disease? Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2008;26:4497.
- Elphee EE. Caring for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing. 2008;12:417.
- Dighiero G, et al. Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. The Lancet. 2008;371(9617):1017.
- Nabhan C, et al. Controversies in the front-line management of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leukemia Research. 2008;32:679.
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment (PDQ) patient version. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/CLL/patient/allpage/print. Accessed Oct. 13, 2008.
- Hallek M, et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A report from the International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia updating the National Cancer Institute Working Group 1996 guidelines. Blood. 2008;111:5446.
- SEER stat fact sheets. Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results. http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/clyl.html. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
- Questions about treatment. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/graphics/National/Allquestionsworksheets/QuestionsabouttreatmentPS172R.pdf. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
- Campath (prescribing information). Cambridge, Mass.: Genzyme Corp.; 2007. http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2007/103948s5070lbl.pdf. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
- Rituxan (prescribing information). San Francisco, Calif.: Genentech; 2008. http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2008/103705s5256lbl.pdf. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
- Cancer-related fatigue. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/fatigue.pdf. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
- Shanafelt TD (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Nov. 12, 2008.
