Comparison of surface membrane phenotypes of IgM⁺ B-CLL cases grouped on the basis of CD38 expression.

PBMCs from 51 IgM⁺ B-CLL cases were analyzed for the expression of CD38, CD40, CD69, CD79b, and HLA-DR on CD5⁺CD19⁺ cells. The B-CLL cases were segregated into 2 groups: CD38⁺, in which 30% or more CD5⁺CD19⁺ B cells expressed CD38, and CD38⁻, in which 30% or fewer CD5⁺CD19⁺ B cells expressed CD38. The mean ± SE of the percentages of CD5⁺CD19⁺ cells expressing CD40, CD69, or CD79b in the CD38⁺ and CD38⁻ cases are provided.