T LYMPHOCYTES BEARING COMPLEMENT RECEPTORS IN A PATIENT WITH CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC-LEUKEMIA

Abstract

A patient is described who presented with a disease clinically resembling chronic lymphocytic leukemia, characterized by generalized lymphadenopathy, pleural and peritoneal effusions, a blood lymphocyte count of 700,000/.mu.l and failure to respond to conventional therapy. At least 95% of these cells formed rosettes with sheep erythrocytes (E) and E coated with 19S antibodies and complement (EAC). All of these cells bound rabbit anti-human thymocyte serum; this serum bound to 0-22% of the lymphocytes from 20 other patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. These unusual cells did not bear surface immunoglobulin detectable by immunofluorescence. The clinical and cellular features of this malignancy are compared to previously reported cases of T [thymus-derived] cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia may present without skin lesions and may be a more aggressive disease than the more common B[bone marrow-derived]-cell neoplasm.