Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) may have a genetic basis. However, the risk of passing it down to future generations remains low. If a person has a family member with CLL, they do not usually need to take any specific steps.

CLL is a form of blood cancer that begins in the bone marrow. It occurs when blood cells begin to grow atypically.

CLL may run in families, but there is also no evidence that genetic testing is beneficial for the condition.

This article looks at whether CLL is hereditary. It also discusses whether a person with a family history of CLL needs to take any steps relating to the condition.

According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM)Trusted Source, CLL has a genetic basis and appears to run in families.

Medical experts are unsure exactly how CLL passes from parent to child. However, researchers currently know that more than 40 genetic changes affect the inherited risk of the condition.

What is the risk of inheriting CLL?

There is some uncertainty about the exact hereditary risk of CLL.

The American Cancer Society (ACS)Trusted Source suggests that people with first-degree relatives with CLL are more than twice as likely to develop the condition in comparison to those who have relatives without the condition.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) states that people with first-degree relatives with CLL are five to eight times more likely to develop it.

However, even if someone has a first-degree relative with CLL, the overall risk of developing the condition appears to be low. This is because the average lifetime risk of developing CLL is low.

Additionally, the ACS stresses that inherited DNA mutations rarely causeTrusted Source this disease. Instead, a person is more likely to develop CLL due to DNA changes that they acquire over their lifetime.

Someone with a family history of CLL does not usually need to take any specific measures. As the LLS explains, even those with a family history of CLL have only a small risk of developing it.

Many people do not experience symptoms of CLL. However, anyone who has a family history of CLL may wish to be more mindful of possible symptoms, such as:

  • fatigue
  • weakness
  • unexplained weight loss
  • chills
  • fever
  • swollen lymph nodes
  • night sweating
  • abdominal pain
  • a feeling of fullness even after a small meal

It is important to note that many conditions can cause these symptoms. A person needs to contact a doctor for an accurate diagnosis if they experience new or persistent symptoms.

There is no evidence that genetic testing for CLL benefits people without any signs of the condition. However, genetic screening can be useful during the diagnostic process.

During genetic testing, medical professionals take samples of bodily tissues or fluids to find evidence of specific genetic mutations.

According to the ACSTrusted Source, doctors sometimes recommend genetic testing on bone marrow cells. This is because certain chromosomal changes can occur in some cases of CL. These include:

  • missing 13, 11, and 17 chromosomes
  • an extra copy of chromosome 12
  • a swapping of the DNA between chromosomes 11 and 14

Genetic testing can also help determine the outlook for people with CLL. For instance, a missing chromosome 13 can mean a more favorable outlook.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) may be hereditary, but researchers are unsure about the extent of this risk.

Research has shown that having a first-degree relative with the disease may increase a person’s risk of developing this condition. However, the overall likelihood of developing CLL remains low, even for those with a family history.

Researchers are continuing to investigate the genetic basis of CLL, though it is still unclear which genetic changes may be responsible for increasing the risk. However, researchers have identified genetic changes that seem to affect the outlook for people with CLL.