[Treatment of the leukostasis syndrome in chronic lymphadenosis using leukapheresis].

The authors draw attention to the leukostasis syndrome which develops in haematological patients in case of enormous leucocyte proliferation. It occurs most frequently in chronic myelosis but may occur also in other types of leukaemia. The diagnosis is not easy. Most frequently disorders of the microcirculation develop in the lungs and brain. These are frequently very urgent clinical situations which can be resolved by leukapheresis. The authors described a patient where during chronic lymphadenosis proliferation of lymphocytes occurred to values of 1432 x 10(9)/l. After leukapheresis and cytostatic treatment rapid improvement of the condition occurred and the leucocyte values were approximately 30 x 10(9)/l. The patient's condition improved for a long period of time and became stabilized.