Clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in Saudi Arabia: consensus statement by an expert panel

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common adult leukemia and represents a significant proportion of leukemias diagnosed in the Western countries but the true incidence and relative frequency of CLL compared with other leukemias in Saudi Arabia are not well defined. Survival outcomes in patients with CLL have improved substantially over time, largely due to the emergence of new, effective, and safer therapeutic options across different stages of the disease. There is a need for clear guidance in the optimal selection of patients for therapy, as well as guidance on therapeutic decision-making to achieve the best outcomes and reduce adverse events seen with the treatment. One of the important purposes of development of local guidelines is to unify the management approach of CLL and to facilitate and optimize early patient referral. This paper represents a focused review and consensus guideline from an expert panel in Saudi Arabia to guide diagnosis and management of CLL nationally. Recommendations are provided based on the available literature evidence and following consensus discussion among the expert panel, covering the diagnosis, staging, and management of CLL in the first line and relapsed/refractory settings.