Abstract

Background: Immunophenotyping has a central role in CLL. However, CLL is a very heterogenous disease, both morphologically and immunophenotypically; thus, its diagnosis may prove a challenge. We investigated CD81 ex-pression in the differential diagnosis of CLL and MCL.
Methods: We retrospectively examined CD81 expression with 8 color Multiparameter Flow cytometry devices in 101 CLL and 19 MCL cases.
Results: We found negative CD81 expression in CLL cases whereas it was positive in MCL cases.
Conclusions: Our results suggest that CD81 may be a valuable marker for the differential diagnosis of CLL. We are of the opinion that it should be definitely included in the diagnostic algorithm for CLL.

DOI: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2018.180802