Early abnormalities of T-cell counts in patients with CLL. The histograms represent the paradoxical early expansions of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, and CD8⁺ T-cell subpopulations in the peripheral blood, and their CD4:CD8 ratio, in CLL patients at diagnosis. Each dot indicates an individual. Absolute values of CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD4:CD8 ratio are represented for cMBL (clinical monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis), Rai stage 0, I-II, or III-IV CLL. Normal aged-matched donors (n = 57, age 52-83 y) on anticoagulation monitoring were used as internal reference values and for statistical comparison.