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Immune and hormonal changes in early-stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients

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Summary

Fifty-six previously untreated stage-I (according to Rai) chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients were examined for their clinical data, immunological characteristics, and hormonal values. Dysfunction of T and B lymphocytes was demonstrated by changed lymphocyte blastogenic response to stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (ConA), pisum sativatum agglutinin (PSA), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), recombinant interleukin 2 (IL 2), and dextran sulfate (DxS); also by decreased immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgA, IgE) and increased β2-microglobulin (β2-M) values. Simultaneously, dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, immune system integration, imbalance of sex hormones, and changes in thyroid hormones were observed in the same group of patients. Disturbed immunohormonal interactions in early-stage CLL may be responsible for the pathogenetic mechanisms in this lymphoproliferative malignancy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tartu, 18 Ülikooli Street, EE 2400, Tartu, Estonia

    H. Everaus & Halliki Kodar

  2. Laboratory of Hematology, Institute of General and Molecular Pathology, University of Tartu, 18 Ülikooli Street, EE 2400, Tartu, Estonia

    H. Everaus, J. Lehtmaa & E. Luik

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  1. H. Everaus
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  3. E. Luik
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Everaus, H., Lehtmaa, J., Luik, E. et al. Immune and hormonal changes in early-stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients. Ann Hematol 65, 219–223 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01703948

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01703948

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