Leukemia, Chronic Lymphocytic

Synonyms

• CLL

Disorder Subdivisions

• None

General Discussion

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a malignant blood disorder in which there is an increased number of white blood cells formed in the lymphoid tissue. This uncontrolled buildup and enlargement of lymphoid tissue can occur in various sites of the body such as the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, and lungs. There are many different forms of leukemia which are all characterized by an overabundance of white blood cells. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a disease of the lymphoid tissue.



The lymph vessels, which return fluids to the circulatory system, and the lymph nodes, which are a mass of tissue separated into compartments by connective tissue, make up the immune system. The lymph nodes serve as filters, removing foreign particles, tissue debris, and bacterial cells from the circulation. When this system is not working properly, the body's defenses cannot fight off foreign particles.



In the majority of cases, chronic lymphocytic leukemia is the result of a rapid production of B lymphocyte cells (a short-lived type of white blood cell that is responsible for the production of vertebrate serum proteins that include antibodies). A small percentage of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cases stem from the overproduction of T lymphocyte cells (a type of white blood cell that have a long life and are important in the resistance of disease).

Resources

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

1311 Mamaroneck Avenue

Suite 310

New York, NY 10605

Tel: (914)949-5213

Fax: (914)949-6691

Tel: (800)955-4572

Email: infocenter@LLS.org

Internet: http://www.LLS.org



American Cancer Society, Inc.

1599 Clifton Road NE

Atlanta, GA 30329

USA

Tel: (404)320-3333

Tel: (800)227-2345

TDD: (866)228-4327

Internet: http://www.cancer.org



National Cancer Institute

6116 Executive Blvd

MSC 8322

Room 3036A

Bethesda, MD 20892-8322

USA

Tel: (301)435-3848

Tel: (800)422-6237

TDD: (800)332-8615

Email: cancergovstaff@mail.nih.gov

Internet: http://www.cancer.gov



OncoLink: The University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center Resource

3400 Spruce Street

2 Donner

Philadelphia, PA 19104-4283

USA

Tel: (215)349-8895

Fax: (215)349-5445

Email: hampshire@uphs.upenn.edu

Internet: http://www.oncolink.upenn.edu



Children's Leukemia Research Association

585 Stewart Avenue, Suite 18

Garden City, NY 11530

Tel: (516)222-1944

Fax: (516)222-0457

Email: info@childrensleukemia.org

Internet: http://www.childrensleukemia.org



Cancer Research UK

61 Lincoln's Inn Fields

London, Intl WC2A 3PX

United Kingdom

Tel: 020 7121 6699

Fax: 020 7121 6700

Email: cancerhelpuk@cancer.org.uk

Internet: http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk



Rare Cancer Alliance

1649 North Pacana Way

Green Valley, AZ 85614

USA

Tel: (520)625-5495

Fax: (615)526-4921

Internet: http://www.rare-cancer.org



MUMS National Parent-to-Parent Network

150 Custer Court

Green Bay, WI 54301-1243

USA

Tel: (920)336-5333

Fax: (920)339-0995

Tel: (877)336-5333

Email: mums@netnet.net

Internet: http://www.netnet.net/mums/



Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center

PO Box 8126

Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126

Tel: (301)251-4925

Fax: (301)251-4911

Tel: (888)205-2311

TDD: (888)205-3223

Email: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/EmailForm.aspx

Internet: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD



Madisons Foundation

PO Box 241956

Los Angeles, CA 90024

Tel: (310)264-0826

Fax: (310)264-4766

Email: getinfo@madisonsfoundation.org

Internet: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org



Friends of Cancer Research

1800 M Street NW

Suite 1050 South

Washington, DC 22202

Tel: (202)944-6700

Email: info@focr.org

Internet: http://www.focr.org



UCSF Hemophilia Treatment Center

400 Parnassus Ave.

First Floor

San Francisco, CA 94143

Tel: (415)476-1280

Fax: (415)353-2600

Tel: (888)689-8273

Email: referral.center@ucsfmedctr.org

Internet: http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/medical_services/blood/hemophilia/index.html



Cancer.Net

American Society of Clinical Oncology

2318 Mill Road

Suite 800

Alexandria, VA 22314

Tel: (571)483-1780

Fax: (571)366-9537

Tel: (888)651-3038

Email: contactus@cancer.net

Internet: http://www.cancer.net/patient



Cancer Support Community

1050 17th St NW

Washington, DC 20036

Tel: (202)659-9709

Fax: (202)974-7999

Tel: (888)793-9355

Internet: http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org/



Lance Armstrong Foundation

2201 E. Sixth Street

Austin, TX 78702

Tel: (512)236-8820

Fax: (512)236-8482

Tel: (877)236-8820

Email: media@livestrong.org

Internet: http://www.livestrong.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated:  2/24/2010

Copyright  1991, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2004 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.