Fig 2.

Smudge cell percentage in 108 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). (A) Distribution of smudge cell percentage in the entire cohort. The presence of smudge cells on peripheral-blood smears of CLL patients is a constant feature of CLL with significant interpatient variability. The median smudge cell percentage was 28% (range, 1% to 75%) in our study. Only four patients (4%) had a smudge cell percentage within the 1% to 5% range. (B) Percentage of smudge cells in CD38^– and CD38⁺ patients. (C) Smudge cell percentage and CD38 expression as continuous variables. A distinct group of patients with a high percentage of smudge cells and CD38^– disease can be identified.