Clinical spectrum of γδ+ T cell LGL leukemia: Analysis of 20 cases

We report on the clinico-biological characteristics of 20 cases of γδ T cell large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia. All the data were compared to that of 196 cases with αβ T cell subtype, which represents the majority of T cell LGL leukemias. Clinical findings were quite similar in the two groups regarding age, sex ratio, recurrent infections, and association with auto-immune diseases especially rheumatoid arthritis. γδ LGL predominantly expressed a CD3+/CD4−/CD8+/CD16+/CD57+ phenotype, in 50% of cases. Clinical outcome was favorable for these patients with overall survival of 85% at 3 years. Fifty percent of γδ patients required treatment and the response to therapy was estimated at 55%. γδ and αβ T cell LGL leukemia harbor a very similar clinico-biological behavior and represent part of an antigen-driven T cell lymphoproliferation.