FOLLOW-UP OF 50 PATIENTS WITH HAIRY-CELL LEUKEMIA (HCL)

In this retrospective study a follow-up of 50 patients, 35 males and 1 5 females, aged between 27 and 82 years, with hairy cell leukemia is d escribed. Their survival ranged between 1 and 14 years. The symptoms w ere not specific in most of them. Splenomegaly was present in all but eight patients. Pancytopenia of various degree and the appearance of h airy cells were the main laboratory findings. Neutropenia was present in 38 patients (66%) and monocytopenia in all of them. Using monoclona l antibodies, in six cases' B-lymphocyte origin of the hairy cells in the peripheral blood was revealed. The bone. marrow biopsy revealed in most of the cases diffuse involvement. Hypergammaglobulinemia was pre sent in 20 patients (in five of them monoclonal paraprotein was also d etected); monoclonal paraprotein could also be detected. The levels of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-M) and soluble receptors of interleukin- 2 (IL2R) represented significant prognostic factors. Treatment for the se patients was splenectomy, interferon alpha-2b (INF) and chlorambuci l. Therapy with INF turned out to be the most effective. Patients who underwent splenectomy had also a relatively good prognosis. Chlorambuc il was of limited value in the treatment of these patients.