[Improvement with interferon-alpha therapy and splenectomy in hairy cell leukemia of European-American type].
A 61-year-old man was admitted to our hospital in April 18, 1988, with dyspnea and gingival bleeding. Physical examination revealed marked splenomegaly, and peripheral blood showed severe pancytopenia with 38% abnormal mononuclear cells. The abnormal cells were characterized by a hairy appearance under a phase contrast microscopy, and strong tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity. These cells reacted with CD19, CD25 and CD11c monoclonal antibodies by the immunostaining method. Bone marrow aspiration failed and bone marrow biopsy revealed diffuse proliferation of hairy cells (HC) with moderate fibrosis. In addition, the staining pattern of HC peroxidase is similar to that found in megakaryocyte series. He was diagnosed as HCL of the European-American type based on these findings. Interferon (IFN)-alpha was administered at a daily dosage of 3 x 10(6) IU by intramuscular injection. Although splenomegaly and hematological conditions improved gradually, he received splenectomy because of his incomplete hematological improvement. Normalization of peripheral blood cell counts and a marked decrease of HC in bone marrow were obtained. Tubuloreticular structure and tubular confronting cisternae were seen in peripheral mononuclear cells during IFN therapy.
Yasuyama
M
M
Second Department of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical College Daini Hospital.
Kawauchi
K
K
Sugiyama
H
H
Mori
H
H
Enomoto
Y
Y
Watanabe
Y
Y
Machii
T
T
Kitani
T
T
D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007943:Leukemia, Hairy Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013156:Splenectomy
D016898:Interferon-alpha