2-chloro-3--deoxyadenosine and Red-Cell-Aplasia--Pure

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.

Topics: 2-Chloroadenosine; Aged; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; Antineoplastic Agents; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Blood Transfusion; Combined Modality Therapy; Cyclophosphamide; Deoxyadenosines; Disease Progression; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Fatal Outcome; Humans; Interferon-alpha; Leukemia, Hairy Cell; Male; Neoplasms, Second Primary; Prednisolone; Recurrence; Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure; Remission Induction; Rituximab; Splenectomy; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms