Sandbox:patho3

Pathogenesis

• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia arises from pre-follicular center B cells, that are normally involved in the process of human immunoglobulins production.
• Malignant lymphocytic cells infiltrates hematopoietic sites such as the bone marrow where they interfere with the production of normal blood cells.
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia may also infiltrate the lymph nodes, spleen, and liver.
• Immune deficiency may occur in chronic lymphocytic leukemia as the majority of cases develop hypogammaglobulinemia.
• Warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia may develop due to the production of IgA and IgG autoantibodies among certain cases of chronic lymphocytic anemia.
• Richter's transformation may occur among 5-10% of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cases.
• Richter's transformation represents the conversion of chronic lymphocytic leukemia into a more aggressive, rapidly growing large B cell lymphoma.