These CLL patients had blood
lymphocyte counts ranging from normal up to 500,000/cu mm, the majority showing a
truly leukemic picture. We first studied patients with classical features of CLL and high
lymphocyte counts. Then we selected CLL patients with serum monocional Ig, peculiar
hematological, or other features which complicated diagnosis. Sixty of the 73 CLL patients
who were studied had never received any treatment.