apoptosis / remission / nodes vs. peripheral blood

[Guest guest]

This is so confusing. I just don’t understand… If CLL

cells are more likely to undergo apoptosis in peripheral

blood, then what is happening when peripheral counts keep

climbing in a patient in whom the nodes or spleen don’t seem

to be swelling? What is the relationship between nodes and

the marrow in this regard? The marrow is creating these

cells and sending them into the blood, but they don’t pile

up in nodes. I can’t say I understood it before this recent

conversation, but I can only continue shaking my head and

feeling totally bewildered.

Karni

dx Nov. 2003 at 59 yrs, asymptomatic

Trisomy 12, CD38 42%, possibly familial (mother had CLL)

tx F/R 2008 because of rapidly increasing ALC, still feeling well