Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: a test of a proposed new clinical staging system

102 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia underwent clinical staging according to 2 systems: the Rai staging system with 5 stages (0: lymphocytosis, I: palpable lymph nodes, II: hepato- or splenomegaly, III: Hb below 110 g/1, IV: platelet count below 100 X 10(9)/1) was compared to a staging system recently proposed by Binet, with only 3 stages (A: not more than 2 areas of palpable nodes or organs, B: at least 3 areas, C: Hb below 10 g/1 or platelet count below 100 X 19(9)/1). With the 3-stage system statistically significant differences between the stages were obtained, whereas some of the Rai stages (I-II-III) were only poorly separated. Non-haemolytic anaemia with Hb below 100 and 110 g/1) or auto-immune haemolytic anaemia. Chest X-ray findings did not influence the clinical stage.