If someone has Chronic lymphocytic Leukemia and the WBC are at 35.2, (Lymphocytes are 67%/Neutrophils 17%), would I still assume there is an active infection?

While we cannot comment on or make a diagnosis on an individual clinical case, we know that Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a type of cancer that affects the white blood cells, particularly the lymphocytes. In CLL, abnormal lymphocytes accumulate in the bone marrow and blood, causing an increase in the total number of white blood cells in the body.

However, despite the increase in the number of white blood cells, the abnormal lymphocytes in CLL are often not able to function effectively in fighting off infections. This is because the cancerous lymphocytes are less mature and less capable than normal lymphocytes. They also tend to accumulate in the lymph nodes and other organs, rather than circulating in the bloodstream.

The white blood cell count in CLL can vary depending on the stage of the disease and other factors, but it is generally higher than normal. In the advanced stages of the disease, the white blood cell count may actually decrease as the cancerous cells start to crowd out the normal blood cells in the bone marrow. Additionally, people with CLL may also have low levels of other types of white blood cells, such as neutrophils, which can increase their risk of infections.

I hope this helps.