Prognostic factors influencing survival in patients with B‐cell small lymphocytic lymphoma

The term “B‐cell small lymphocytic lymphoma” (B‐SLL) is generally reserved for patients with lymph node masses that show the histology and immunophenotype of B‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B‐CLL) but who are not leukemic. The aim of our study was to define clinical factors that predict for survival in B‐SLL. Thirty‐nine patients with B‐SLL and with less than 5,000 mature‐appearing lymphocytes/μL in the peripheral blood were studied. The median follow‐up of survivors was 6.6 years (range, 1.6–12.3 years). The estimated 5‐year overall survival (OS) and failure‐free survival (FFS) were 66% and 23%, respectively. In the univariate analysis, significant adverse predictors for OS were age ≥60 years, B symptoms, elevated serum LDH, low hemoglobin (<11 g/dL), and high International Prognostic Index (IPI) score (3–5). In multivariate analysis, the IPI score was the only significant predictor of OS. Anemia and B symptoms were additionally predictive of poor OS in patients with low IPI scores. Am. J. Hematol. 77:31–35, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.