Complete remission of hairy cell leukemia variant (HCL-v) complicated by red cell aplasia post treatment with rituximab

Haematology Service, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, St Andrew's Place, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. hangquach@optusnet.com.au

Hairy cell leukemia variant (HCL-v) is a rare form of a chronic B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. Unlike typical hairy cell leukemia (HCL) where the complete response (CR) rate to 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine and 2'-deoxycoformycin can approach about 90%, in HCL-v CR is rare and partial response (PR) occurs in approximately 50% with these agents. Rituximab treatment in relapsed or refractory HCL results in a CR of 13% to 53%, but its use in HCL-v has not been reported in the literature to our knowledge. We describe a patient with HCL-v, whose course was previously complicated by pure red cell aplasia who achieved CR after treatment with rituximab. We also briefly review outcomes of treatments used in HCL-v reported in the current literature.

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				S. O. Wanko and C. de Castro Hairy Cell Leukemia: An Elusive but Treatable Disease Oncologist, July 1, 2006; 11(7): 780 - 789. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]