Journal of

Background and Aim: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a lymphoprolifrative disorder, which is very heterogeneous in prognosis. Therefore, the analysis of the prognostic factors should be very helpful in diagnosing patients with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between circulating Endothelial cells number with VWF levels along with the other hematological findings in CLL.

Materials and Methods: Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 30 CLL patients admitted to the hematology department of Firozgar hospital and 30 healthy subjects. The levels of CEC were measured by the presence of CD34 and VWF markers, and absence of CD45 marker, using flow cytometry. VWF levels was evaluated by ELISA.

Results: The CEC levels were significantly higher in blood of the CLL patients (0.64%), when compared to the controls (0.12%, P=0.002). The levels of plasma VWF were higher among high grade patients, when compared to controls and patients in lower grades. There was a negative correlation between CEC levels, and Hb concentration in the patients group (r=-0.47, P=0.01).

Conclusion: Although the levels of both CEC count and plasma VWF in patient with high grade CLL were increased when compared to patients with low grade, there was no significant correlation between these two parameters.