Spontaneous Complete Remission In Adult T-cell Leukemia: A Case Report
Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology 13(Suppl 2): 1983; 231-236
View Original Source →Abstract
A case of complete spontaneous remission of CLL in a 76-year-old woman is reported. Despite the complete remission, the study of the peripheral blood T lymphocytic subsets by the aid of monoclonal antibodies has showed, however, that the ratio between helper-induced and suppressor cytotoxic T cells is still impaired (0.81) as we can see in overt B-CLL. The cause of the remission and its possible connection with the imbalanced distribution of the T lymphocytic subsets is discussed.
Case Details
Personal Characteristics
36-year-old man, bus driver, lived in kobe for most of his life, had chronic sinusitis since he was 19 years old, no history of blood transfusion
Clinical Characteristics
Appearance of morphologically abnormal lymphocytes, cough with sputum, skin nodules, decreased breath sounds and moderate dry rales bilaterally in the lower lungs, leukocyte count was 13,000/ mm3 with 20% morphologically abnormal lymphocytes
Remission Characteristics
After treatment with antibiotics and a beclomethasone inhaler, the symptoms decreased, and then the abnormal lymphocytes and skin nodules disappeared. The spontaneous, complete remission has continued for four years
Treatment & Mechanisms
Proposed Remission Mechanisms
Not discussed
Clinical Treatment
Treatment with antibiotics and a beclomethasone inhaler
Additional Notes
The patient was born in Onada City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The birthplace of his mother is Saga Prefecture on Kyushu island. He had a cough with sputum one and a half years before entry. After admission, skin nodules occurred and were diagnosed histologically as non-Hodgkins lymphoma, diffuse pleomorphic. Serum antibodies against an adult T-cell leukemia associated antigen were detected at a titer of 1:40. Chest x-ray films, a pulmonary function test, bronchographic examination, bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial lung biopsy demonstrated no relationship between the pulmonary symptoms and the adult T-cell leukemia