Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Richter's transformation
Introduction
Richter’s transformation, or Richter’s Syndrome (RS) is a rare complication of B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or hairy cell leukemia (HCL). With Ricther’s, CLL changes into a fast-growing diffuse large B cell lymphoma.[2] It affects perhaps 2% to 8% of CLL patients at some point during their lives.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Richter’s transformation include fever, loss of weight and muscle mass, and enlarged lymph nodes.[3] Richter’s can appear suddenly, even in patients who were in remission. The prognosis is generally poor, and aggressive treatment is usually warranted.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]