Li, Chin‐Yang

Lymphoproliferative disease of granular T lymphocyte (T-LDGL), also known as T-cell large granular lymphocyte leukemia, is a clonal disorder of cytotoxic T lymphocytes that is clinically manifested as chronic neutropenia and anemia. Association with autoimmune disorders is common. In 9 patients, T-LDGL is reported as presenting as aplastic anemia. The clinical characteristics were similar to acquired aplastic anemia. Morphologic evidence of increased granular lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and an excess of CD3+/CD8+/CD57+ cells in the bone marrow were found in most cases. Cyclophosphamide was ineffective, but noncytotoxic immunosuppressive agents generally produced a good response. After a median follow-up of 49 months, 5 patients had died from the disease or related complications. Median survival was 40 months. Aplastic anemia can be a presenting manifestation of T-LDGL, and T-LDGL should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acquired aplastic anemia.

Abstract Background: The prognosis of patients with T-cell large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia is diverse, with some patients experiencing rapid progression of the disease while others surviving decades. Despite multiple case reports and a number of case series reported in literature, prognostic factors in this leukemia are unknown and no staging/prognostic system has been developed. Aim: To identify factors predicting the prognosis of patients with newly diagnosed T-cell LGL leukemia. Methods: We reviewed the presentation, laboratory data and the clinical course of patients with newly diagnosed T-cell LGL at seen at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester. T-cell LGL was diagnosed in patients with at least 2 of these criteria: morphological evidence of LGL leukemia on bone marrow biopsy or blood smear; LGL immunophenotype; evidence of clonal T-cell receptor gene rearrangements. Results: 286 patients seen at Mayo Clinic Rochester between 6/1986 and 5/2005 met diagnostic criteria (52% male, median age at presentation 64 years (range 27–88)). Lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, and hepatomegaly were present in 9%, 4% and 1.5% of the patients respectively. Median hemoglobin was 11.7 g/dL (range 3.5 – 17.1). Median absolute neutrophil count (ANC) was 1.51 × 109/L (range 0.0 – 20 × 109/L) and median absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) was 2.2 × 109/L (range 0.1 – 24). Median LGL count on peripheral smear was 0.81 × 109/L (range 0.06–10.8 × 109/L). Cytogenetic studies were done for 122 patients, of which, only 9 were abnormal. 87 patients (29%) had associated autoimmune conditions: rheumatoid arthritis (n=29), Felty’s syndrome (n=11), other connective tissue disorders (n=9)). Pure red cell aplasia, aplastic anemia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and autoimmune hemolytic anemia were seen in 17, 5, 8, 1 patients respectively. Median follow up was 50 months (range 1–229) and estimated median survival was 74.3 months. In multivariate analysis, the only independent risk factors were: anemia (hemoglobin<12 g/dl), hazard ratio (HR) 1.75, (95%CI 1.22–2.52, p= 0.0023), severe neutropenia (<0.1 × 109/L), HR 2.11 (95%CI 1.053–4.25) and lymphopenia (ALC< 1 × 109/L), HR 1.93 (95%CI 1.21–3.07). We developed a simple prognostic scoring system based on the above identified independent risk factors, stratifying patients in 3 groups: 0 - no risk factors present, 1 -one risk factor, 2 - two or more risk factors present. The median survival was 105, 55 and 5 months for score of 0, 1 and 2 respectively, p=0.004 (Figure). Conclusion: The prognosis of patients with newly diagnosed T-cell LGL is variable. The presence of anemia, severe neutropenia and lymphopenia are independent poor prognostic factors in T-cell LGL. Combining these factors allows the identification of patients at a high risk of death from the disease. Further studies are needed to prospectively validate these findings and establish if the high risk group would benefit from aggressive therapy. Figure Figure.