- Patients receiving high dose steroid therapy or another immunosuppressive agent. Note: Topical applications (e.g. rash), inhaled sprays (e.g. obstructive airways diseases), eye drops or local injections (e.g. intra-articular) are allowed. Patients who are on stable moderate dose corticosteroid treatment for treatment of conditions other than CLL (< dexamethasone 4 mg/day, prednisone 25 mg/day) for at least 14 days before start of study treatment are eligible.