Is it CLL?

My 76-year-old father has had elevated lymphocytes for over a year now, the latest being 5.0 (normal 0.7-3.5). His other tests are normal: platelet 183 (normal 150-400), WBC 9.7 (normal 4.0-11.0), monocytes 0.6 (ormal 0.0-1.0), eosinophils 0.2 (0.0-0.7), basophils 0.0 (normal 0.0-0.2), C-reactive protein 0.5 (normal 0.0-8.0) and spleen is normal.

He had been very tried lately.

He'll be going for flow cytometry and seeing a hemotologist but the appt isn't for a couple of months and I'm frantic that it's CLL. How concerned should I be?

[PaulMD]

Hi there.

The symptoms and the increased lymphocytes may indeed be CLL, however, it is really very hard to tell just based on those two parameters.

The definitive diagnosis will rely on the bone marrow examination or a flow cytometry under a hematologist guidance.

Other conditions that can give rise to elevated lymphocytes would include viral infections or atypical bacterial infections.  

As long as other blood parameters are OK, and there are no new symptoms, yuor father should be fine, however, if the hematologist consult can be scheduled earlier, then that will be a lot better.

Regards.