12 August 2018 (Sunday) - Smear Cells

I read an interesting article today. You can read it at:

Percentage of smudge cells in CLL patients has recently been reported as a novel prognostic factor….. Ninety adults with CLL were enrolled. Smudge cells percentage was calculated by microscopic evaluation of blood smears. Testing of CD38 expression was done by immunophenotyping and detection of…

Results: Lower smear cells percentage (<30%) was significantly correlated with age, lymphadenopathy, organomegaly and advanced staging. It was also associated with high TLC, low hemoglobin and platelets count and high absolute and atypical lymphocytic count.

Correlation studies with other prognostic factors revealed an association between low smear cells percentage and CD38 expression, short LDT, P53 and ATM deletions. Logistic regression analysis was also done to provide complementary prognostic information identifying the significant independent factors that predict low smear cell percentage.

Conclusion: low percentage of smudge cells (<30%) could be considered as an adverse prognostic predictor being associated with high risk markers in CLL.


Interesting… I’m hearing this more and more. I was always told the smear/smudge cells were dead things do be ignored. Maybe we should be counting them?

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