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Do you use absolute WBC count or doubling time to determine whether to start treatment for early stage CLL?

Would this affect your decision regardless of the stage and symptoms?
2 Answers
Mednet Member
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Medical Oncology · Brigham and Women's Hospital
Answered on

In my view, the pace of disease is a more relevant indicator of the need for treatment than any absolute WBC count. Observations over time usually make it clear when treatment is needed. Several studies have shown that early intervention is not associated with improved survival, though it must be ac...

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Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Medical Oncology · University of Miami Health System
Answered on

There is no absolute WBC count that would meet criteria to start treatment for early stage CLL. While a doubling time of lymphocytes is included in the iwCLL criteria for treatment, a doubling time of the WBC is not. The full iwCLL criteria can be found here.

In practice, the lymphocyte doubling time...

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