Pathogenesis, prophylaxis and treatment of infections in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients are at high risk for infections. The pathogenesis of infection in patients with this leukemia is complex and multifactorial. Patients with CLL have a number of immune system defects, including disordered B-cell function with decreased production of normal B-cells and abnormal production of immunoglobulins, suppressed Tcell function and neutropenia. Other immune abnormalities present in CLL patients include neutrophil dysfunction, and complement deficiencies. In addition, further perturbations in immune function are related to the antileukemic therapies. Immune disturbance might be common prior to CLL diagnosis and infectious agents could trigger CLL development. Current chemotherapy-based regimens are not curative and often worsen this immune suppression. The introduction of new effective therapeutic agents such as the purine analogues and monoclonal antibodies has influenced the spectrum of infections diagnosed in CLL patients. Some conditions increase the risk for the development of infections including advanced age, decreased levels of immunoglobulins, advanced Binet stage, neutropenia and treatment with more than one line of chemotherapy. Until now it is debatable whether and when antibacterial prophylaxis could be useful in CLL patients. The prevention of infection includes antimicrobial prophylaxis, as well as immunoglobulin replacement and vaccination. Antibacterial prophylaxis should be given to CLL patients with previous severe and/or relapsing bacterial infections. This article reviews the immune defects in CLL and discusses strategies aimed at prophylaxis and treatment of infections in patients with CLL.