To test whether there were differences with regard to characteristics of the observed prediagnostic clones in relation to the time between the time at which the prediagnostic blood sample was obtained and the subsequent CLL diagnosis (i.e., latency), we conducted analyses stratified according to the mean latency (≤32 months or >32 months). Among patients with latency of more than 32 months, we were able to define the presence of the IGHV gene and determine the mutational status in 14 of 19 patients. Of these patients, 11 (79%) had mutated genes, and 3 (21%) had unmutated genes. For patients with a latency of 32 months or less, the mutational status of IGHV was defined in 21 of 27 patients. Of these patients, 16 (76%) had mutated genes, and 5 (24%) had unmutated genes. The distribution of the presence of IGHV was similar in the two groups (Table 2). When we assessed patterns of kappa or lambda light chains of the prediagnostic clones according to mutational status, among 30 patients for whom results were available on both light-chain restriction and mutational status,
