Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026

Cigarette Smoke Exposure in Mice using a Whole-Body Inhalation System
Published on: October 22, 2020
Persistent polyclonal B-cell lymphocytosis in chronic smokers: more than meets the eye
Constantin A Dasanu1, Ion Codreanu
1Department of Hematology-Oncology, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Hartford, USA.
Background:
Persistent neutrophiliais awell-recognized phenomenon in some chronic cigarette smokers. In contrast, persistent polyclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (PPBL) is considered a rare entity affecting this patient population.
Methods:
We analyzed a cohort of 21 patients with chronic smoking histories presenting with persistent leukocytosis. None of the patients was on steroids, lithium preparations, or other medications known to increase the white blood cell (WBC) counts. We excluded any myeloproliferative or lymphoproliferative conditions in our patient cohort. WBC differential was obtained during repeated visits and the mean values calculated. The results were subsequently compared to known upper normal limits and tested for statistical significance.
Results:
The absolute leukocyte count in our cohort was 17.8 +/- 3.2 x 10(9)/L and the absolute neutrophil count was 12.0 +/- 2.8 x 10(9)/L. The difference proved statistically significant for both values when compared to upper normal limits (P < 0.001). Six patients (five females and one male) were also found to have a significant and persistent lymphocytosis at 5.1 +/- 0.5 x 10(9)/L (P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
We have identified the presence of -29% PPBL cases in a series of consecutive patients with persistent leukocytosis/neutrophilia related to chronic cigarette smoking. Similar to the results obtained by other investigators, our PPBL patients showed a younger female predominance. Given the findings in our cohort, we believe that PPBL might be more common than previously thought and discuss further its potential implications for general and specialty practice.
More Related Videos
09:02Immunoglobulin Gene Sequence Analysis In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: From Patient Material To Sequence Interpretation
Published on: November 26, 2018
09:07In Vitro Model for Studying Differentiation and Changes of Multi-Omics on Murine Airway Epithelial Cells Stimulated with Cigarette Smoke Extract
Published on: July 12, 2024
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease II: Emphysema
Chronic Inflammation: Introduction
COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...