Cell Studies in Prolymphocytic Leukaemia

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Abstract
A case of prolymphocytic leukemia, showing several features not yet reported in this disease, is reported. The majority of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and bone marrow had markers of both B[bone marrow-derived] and T[thymus-derived]-lymphocytes. The simultaneous presence of receptors for sheep red blood cells and surface immunoglobulins on individual cells was demonstrated and the endogenous origin of these markers was established. The lymphocytes had some of the functional characteristics seen in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In vitro cell death in the presence of colchicine (colchicine ultrasensitivity) and polystyrene bead column retention were of the same order as seen in CLL. In contrast with the findings in CLL, these cells were markedly radioresistant in vitro. The dominant clinical features, anemia and constitutional symptoms, appeared related to hypersplenism associated with massive splenomegaly. The relevance of these findings is discussed.