Chronic lymphocytic leukemia clinical presentation

This is a humanized anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody. At present it is in clinical use after bone marrow transplantation and for the treatment of refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia. 

Alemtuzumab is the antibody to the CD52 receptor present on B and T lymphocytes. The pharmacokinetics of alemtuzumab demonstrate a terminal half-life of 7 days. Alemtuzumab has shown clinical activity in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Severe and prolonged (6 months) immunosuppression may result, which necessitates prophylaxis with cotrimox-azole and antivirals to prevent opportunistic infections. 

The term leukemia was coined by Virchow to describe the white blood of some patients that he saw under the microscope in 1845. Historically, leukemia has been classified as acute or chronic based on differences in cell of origin and cell line maturation, clinical presentation, rapidity of progression of the untreated disease, and response to therapy. Four major leukemias are recognized acute lymphocytic (or lymphoblastic) leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and chronic myeloid... 

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