Re: Question about leukapheresis

[Guest guest]

Hi, I see no recent reports on it ... this one dated 1980 was not favorable:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6773192

All the best,

Karl

>

> Does anyone know if leukapheresis is still done as a method of treatment in

CLL?

>

> ~chris

>

[Guest guest]

Leukophoresis, even when done, is not an adequate methode for treatment. It

removes the CLL cells from the peripheral blood. The peropheral blood CLL cells

represent a relatively small portion of the CLL tumor burden and are not likely

the source of cell production.

At best, leukophoresis is a transient means for lowering the WBC. It is often

done when physicians become concerned about the height of the WBC causing

sludging, or leukostasis. There are no data defining what this level should be,

or even if it exists for CLL. We know 75,000-100,000 is a good level for acute

myelogenous leukemia (AML), but CLL cells are very, very different. Patients

tolerated elevated levels far better. The highest I have seen was 760,000,

without any complications.

When used, the effect of leukophoresis lasts only days.

Rick Furman, MD

>

> Does anyone know if leukapheresis is still done as a method of treatment in

CLL?

>

> ~chris

>