secondary immunodeficiency frequency in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: the relationship with stage and treatment

Background: chronic lymphocytic leukemia (cll) is one of the most common hematologicalmalignancies. in patients with cll, serum immunoglobulin levels decrease over time due to both thedisease itself and the chemo-immunotherapeutic agents used. it was aimed to reveal the relationshipbetween hypogammaglobulinemia and disease stage, and chemo-immunotherapies.materials and methods: data were obtained by retrospectively examining 74 patients who werefollowed-up between 2008-2019. the relationship between all parameters (demographiccharacteristics, rai stages or therapy subtypes) and serum igg levels was analyzed.results: thirty-two of 74 patients received a therapy. twenty-two patients were on combinedtherapy with rituximab or only rituximab and 10 were treated with chemotherapeutic agents only.the frequency of hypogammaglobulinemia was 5.4% at the diagnosis, this rate was 55% in patientsreceiving a therapy. hypogammaglobulinemia was higher in advanced stages. in patients withrituximab, higher levels of igg decrease were observed.conclusion: serum igg level was significantly lower in patients with advanced-stage, receivedchemotherapy, especially rituximab. in addition to basal igg, immunoglobulin levels should bechecked during treatment, and follow-up period. early replacement intravenous immunoglobulins willbe important to reduce severe infection attacks due to secondary immunodeficiency.