A unique variant of hairy cell leukemia in Japan.
We studied 25 Japanese patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL) and found a manner in which HCL can be divided into two subtypes. In each patient, hairy cells (HC) showed striking surface hairs and reacted with HC-specific antibodies (alpha Leu-M5 and alpha HC-M). Twenty of the 25 patients had HC characterized by round nuclei with dense nuclear chromatin, weak tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity and the phenotype of low density surface immunoglobulin (SIg)+, Tac-. In this group of 20 patients, the male to female ratio was low, and there was frequent leukocytosis. On the other hand, the remaining 5 patients showed a high male to female ratio and a normal or decreased leukocyte count. HC had folded nuclei, strong TRAP activity and the phenotype of high density SIg+, Tac+. The features of the latter patients are consistent with those of HCL in Western countries, while those of the former group appear to indicate a unique variant of HCL.
Machii
T
T
Department of Clinical Research, Osaka University, Suita, Japan.
Tokumine
Y
Y
Inoue
R
R
Kitani
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D007943:Leukemia, Hairy Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D015415:Biomarkers