Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/2445/126481
Title: Common Infectious Agents and Monoclonal B-cell Lymphocytosis: A Cross-sectional Epidemiological Study Among Healthy Adults
Author: Casabonne, Delphine
Almeida, Julia
Nieto, Wendy G
Romero, Alfonso
Fernández Navarro, Paulino
Rodriguez Caballero, Arancha
Munoz Criado, Santiago
González Díaz, Marcos
Benavente, Yolanda
Sanjosé Llongueras, Silvia de
Orfao, Alberto
Primary Health Care Group of Salamanca for the Study of MBL
Keywords: Cèl·lules B
Infeccions respiratòries
B cells
Respiratory infections
Issue Date: 28-Dec-2012
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Abstract: Background: Risk factors associated with monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL), a potential precursor of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), remain unknown. Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, we investigated demographic, medical and behavioural risk factors associated with MBL. "Low-count" MBL (cases) were defined as individuals with very low median absolute count of clonal B-cells, identified from screening of healthy individuals and the remainder classified as controls. 452 individuals completed a questionnaire with their general practitioner, both blind to the MBL status of the subject. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for MBL were estimated by means of unconditional logistic regression adjusted for confounding factors. Results: MBL were detected in 72/452 subjects (16%). Increasing age was strongly associated with MBL (P-trend<0.001). MBL was significantly less common among individuals vaccinated against pneumococcal or influenza (OR 0.49, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.25 to 0.95; P-value = 0.03 and OR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.29 to 0.93, P-value = 0.03, respectively). Albeit based on small numbers, cases were more likely to report infectious diseases among their children, respiratory disease among their siblings and personal history of pneumonia and meningitis. No other distinguishing epidemiological features were identified except for family history of cancer and an inverse relationship with diabetes treatment. All associations described above were retained after restricting the analysis to CLL-like MBL. Conclusion: Overall, these findings suggest that exposure to infectious agents leading to serious clinical manifestations in the patient or its surroundings may trigger immune events leading to MBL. This exploratory study provides initial insights and directions for future research related to MBL, a potential precursor of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Further work is warranted to confirm these findings.
Note: Reproducció del document publicat a: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0052808
It is part of: PLoS One, 2012, vol. 7, num. 12, p. e52808
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2445/126481
Related resource: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0052808
Appears in Collections:Articles publicats en revistes (Institut d'lnvestigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL))

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