Identifying atypical chronic lymphocytic leukemia using CD200 by eight-color flow cytometry

Abstract EN

Objective: Flow cytometric immunophenotyping is routinely employed to differentiate between chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

We investigated the role of cluster of differentiation 200 (CD200) in atypical CLL.

Materials and Methods: A total of 90 chronic lymphocytic leukemia cases between January 2018 and December 2019, thirteen (14.4%) out of which were diagnosed as atypical CLL were included in the study.

The expression of CD200 using eight-color flow cytometry in combination with the conventional panel of flow cytometry markers was examined.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization to search for the t(11:14) chromosomal translocation was done to rule out MCL.

Results: All 13 (100%) cases of atypical CLL were positive for CD200 and negative for t (11:14).

Conclusion: CD200 is considered a useful marker in differentiating between atypical CLL and MCL.

It is recommended to be included in the routine investigation of all CLL cases.

Keywords: CD200, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, immunophenotyping, mantle cell lymphoma.