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Each year between more than 300 new cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are seen and more than 2,000 outpatient visits related to CLL are performed at Mayo Clinic. The Mayo CLL clinical team consists of hematologists (doctors specializing in blood disorders), nurse practitioners, nurses and support staff that treat CLL and other chronic lymphoproliferative diseases. including hairy cell leukemia, leukemia of granular lymphocytes (LGL), and T-prolymphocytic leukemia. The CLL clinical team works closely with physicians, scientists and researchers from adult stem cell transplant, infectious diseases, pathology, immunology, genetics, epidemiology and statistics to maintain a multidisciplinary and cutting edge approach.
In the current era, CLL is most commonly diagnosed using a blood test called flow cytometry. Often this test is performed after discovery of an elevated white blood cell count during a routine exam or at the time of another medical procedure. Additional blood tests are then done to help determine the prognosis. Read more chronic lymphocytic leukemia diagnosis.
Treatment options for CLL depend on the stage and the presence of symptoms. Many patients with no symptoms can be safely watched without chemotherapy for a significant time. When treatment is required, there are many options available, including chemotherapy, monoclonal antibodies, or combinations of both. There is an emerging role for bone marrow (stem cell) transplant in selected individuals. Effective treatments have been developed in recent years that provide increased remission rates and new hope to patients. Read more about chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment options.
Mayo Clinic has active research programs including clinical trials, immunology, CLL biology, genetics, epidemiology, familial CLL and others related to CLL. Large clinical and laboratory databases contribute to translational research discovery. Read more about CLL research at Mayo.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is the most common adult leukemia. The average age of diagnosis is 65 to 67 years of age. The cause of CLL remains unknown. Numerous environmental and genetic causes are being investigated. In some patients CLL can remain very slow-growing for years and may never require therapy, while in others it may act much more aggressively. It needs to be regularly monitored by an expert.
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