Hairy cell leukemia: preliminary results with alpha 2 (r) interferon.
Ten patients with hairy cell leukemia are being treated at our institution with a therapeutic schedule of alpha 2(r) interferon (2 X 10(6) IU/m2 s.c. three times per week). Five patients underwent splenectomy from 4 to 108 months before treatment; nonsplenectomized patients had spleens palpable 6 to 12 cm UCM. According to Quesada's response criteria, at the sixth month of therapy, one patient was considered a complete responder, 8 partial responders and one a minor responder, with no differences between splenectomized and nonsplenectomized patients. In nonsplenectomized patients the spleen returned to normal. Our data confirm that interferon, even at low dosages, is a very effective approach for hairy cell leukemia. No evidence was found to contraindicate such therapy.
Mandelli
F
F
Annino
L
L
Cafolla
A
A
De Rossi
G
G
Bianco
P
P
Fontana
L
L
Dianzani
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007943:Leukemia, Hairy Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D007370:Interferon Type I