Coombs' [the antiglobulin] test in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

ABSTRACT

47 Iraqi patiens with chronic lymphocytic leukemia were investigated for evidence of a complicating auto-immune hemolytic process by the anti-globulin [Coombs'] test, at presentation and prior to the initiation of treatment.The results show 27.6% of the CLL cases had a positive Coombs' test indicating a complicating auto-immune hemolytic process against their red cells. No equal A significant correlation was found to exist between the frequency of the presence of a positive coornbs' test in cll cases and the disease satging. Advanced stages showed more frequent association-all cases having a positive test were of young age group than the remaining cases.-There was a significant association between the lymphocytes percentage and the development of auto-immune hemolytic anemia in CLL patients. While there was no association between this disorder and thrombocytopenia