Introduction to Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Risk Factors for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chances of developing a disease. There are relatively few know risk factors for developing chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Some of these risk factors include:

• Environmental risk factors - certain herbicides and insecticides have been linked to the development of CLL. Radiation exposure is not known to be a risk factor for CLL.

• Age - most cases of CLL are diagnosed in people 50 years of age or older

• Gender - CLL is more prevalent in males than females by a ratio of 1.7 to 1.0.

• Family History - First-degree relatives of patients with CLL have a higher risk for developing this type of leukemia.