Persistent Polyclonal Lymphocytosis of B Lymphocytes

Abstract

IMMUNOLOGIC evaluation of lymphocytes from peripheral blood or other tissues in a patient with a lymphoproliferative disorder may be helpful in establishing the benign or malignant nature of the process. In this regard, the ability to document monoclonal B cells by immunoglobulin-light-chain typing in a lymphoproliferative process is strong evidence of the presence of neoplasia.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Our own experience has been that most patients with chronic peripheral lymphocytosis have an underlying monoclonal malignant proliferation.Recently, however, we evaluated three patients who appeared to have had a unique stable lymphoproliferative disease for as long as 15 years. Several singular clinical and laboratory . . .