Characteristics of 117 patients at study entry
Median age, y (range)  | 49 (27-60)  | 
| Sex | |
| Male (%) | 89 (76) | 
| Female (%) | 28 (24) | 
| Hematologic parameters | |
| Median hemoglobin level, g/dL (range) | 13.4 (5.5-16.4) | 
| Median white blood cell count, × 109/L (range) | 80 (3-473) | 
| Median platelet count, × 109/L (range) | 166 (13-344) | 
| Lymphadenopathy, no. of patients | |
| None | 17 | 
| Cervical only | 10 | 
| Axillary only | 5 | 
| Inguinal only | 0 | 
| Cervical and axillary | 27 | 
| Cervical and inguinal | 3 | 
| Axillary and inguinal | 5 | 
| Cervical, axillary, and inguinal | 49 | 
| Splenomegaly, no. of patients | |
| None | 59 | 
| Less than 10 cm | 40 | 
| More than 10 cm | 15 | 
| Splenectomy | 2 | 
| B symptoms, no. of patients | |
| Yes | 77 | 
| No | 39 | 
| Lymphocytes in bone marrow, no. of patients | |
| Less than 50% | 8 | 
| 50%-75% | 19 | 
| More than 75% | 64 | 
| Bone marrow exam not performed | 26 | 
| ECOG performance status, no. of patients | |
| 0 | 98 | 
| 1 | 11 | 
| 2 | 2 | 
| Not specified | 6 | 
| Stage of disease, no. of patients (%) | |
| A (progressive) | 27 (23.1) | 
| B | 68 (58.1) | 
|  C  |  22 (18.8)  | 
Median age, y (range)  | 49 (27-60)  | 
| Sex | |
| Male (%) | 89 (76) | 
| Female (%) | 28 (24) | 
| Hematologic parameters | |
| Median hemoglobin level, g/dL (range) | 13.4 (5.5-16.4) | 
| Median white blood cell count, × 109/L (range) | 80 (3-473) | 
| Median platelet count, × 109/L (range) | 166 (13-344) | 
| Lymphadenopathy, no. of patients | |
| None | 17 | 
| Cervical only | 10 | 
| Axillary only | 5 | 
| Inguinal only | 0 | 
| Cervical and axillary | 27 | 
| Cervical and inguinal | 3 | 
| Axillary and inguinal | 5 | 
| Cervical, axillary, and inguinal | 49 | 
| Splenomegaly, no. of patients | |
| None | 59 | 
| Less than 10 cm | 40 | 
| More than 10 cm | 15 | 
| Splenectomy | 2 | 
| B symptoms, no. of patients | |
| Yes | 77 | 
| No | 39 | 
| Lymphocytes in bone marrow, no. of patients | |
| Less than 50% | 8 | 
| 50%-75% | 19 | 
| More than 75% | 64 | 
| Bone marrow exam not performed | 26 | 
| ECOG performance status, no. of patients | |
| 0 | 98 | 
| 1 | 11 | 
| 2 | 2 | 
| Not specified | 6 | 
| Stage of disease, no. of patients (%) | |
| A (progressive) | 27 (23.1) | 
| B | 68 (58.1) | 
|  C  |  22 (18.8)  |