spontaneous Complete Remission of CLL | Spontaneous Remission Database

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

Disease Location

Lymph nodes

Personal Characteristics

76-year-old woman

Clinical Characteristics

Admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of cll, she was found to have enlarged lymph nodes on both sides of the neck, axillae and supraclavicular areas. Bone marrow aspirate revealed a sharp increase in the percentage of lymphocytes (91 %). He left supraclavicular lymphnode biopsy showed dif fuse infiltration with lymphoid cells appearing as small lymphocytes involving also the capsula. Lymphography showed enlarged iliac and lumboaortic lymphnodes bilaterally with a lacy appearance typical of lymphoma. The disease was classified as stage i cll accord ing to the rains classification

Remission Characteristics

In the following years, we remarked a gradual and more and more striking regression of the lymph- adenopathies. In april 1980, the lymphadenopathies disappeared. Bone marrow aspiration disclosed 8% of lymphocytes. Bone marrow biopsy showed that the structure of the bone was normal. Diffuse infiltra tion with lymphoid cells or disperse accumulations of small lymphocytes were not found. A computed tomographic (CT) of the abdomen showed neither an enlargement of the pelvic or lumboaortic lymphnodes nor an involvement of the liver or spleen

Treatment & Mechanisms

Proposed Remission Mechanisms

Immune reaction