[Leukemic meningitis in B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia]

An 84-year-old woman was admitted because of anemia and marked leukocytosis. The white cell count was 237,660/microliter, with 93% abnormal lymphoid cells. The cells had abundant cytoplasm and prominent nucleoli. They were positive for CD 5, 19, 20, 22, 23, HLA-DR, IgM, IgD and kappa chain. Thus, a diagnosis of B-cell PLL was made. Chromosome analysis disclosed a complex karyotypic abnormality. Massive splenomegaly was detected by abdominal computed tomography. No external or internal lymphadenopathy was found. The patient was intermittently treated with etoposide. Although the white cell counts had been suppressed, she refused to take the drug because of side effects. When the white cell count exceeded more than 200,000/microliter again, she developed severe headache, diplopia, nausea, and vomiting. A lumber puncture disclosed infiltration of the prolymphocytes in the cerebrospinal fluid. Though intrathecal chemotherapy alleviated the symptoms and the leukemic cells disappeared, the effects were transient. When the therapy was withheld because of bone marrow suppression, the meningitis recurred and the symptoms progressed. The patient died six months after the initial presentation.