UC Irvine

Peripheral blood from 77 cases of B-CLL was analyzed to evaluate the diagnostic value of SIg clonality and fluorescence intensity, mouse rosettes (MR), and CD5. Monoclonal SIg (L-chain restriction or H-chain restriction or both) was detected in 69 cases (89.61%), with weak fluorescence (mean channel number on flow cytometry <200) in 65 (94.2%); MR was positive in 66 (85.71%); CD5 positive in 64 (83.12%). The association of SIg intensity, MR, and CD5 was as follows: weak SIg/MR+/CD5+, 41 cases (53.25%); weak SIg/MR+/CD5-, 13 (16.88%); weak SIg/MR-/CD5+, 11 (14.29%); strong SIg/MR+/CD5+, 4 (5.19%); and undetected SIg/MR+/CD5+, 8 (10.39%). Thus, by performing the three markers and accepting either two or three positive results (weak SIg, MR+, CD5+) as sufficient for diagnosis, all 77 cases (100%) were diagnosed. The study demonstrated the complementary roles between L- and H- chains, and between SIg intensity, MR, and CD5 in immunophenotyping CLL.