Familial hairy cell leukemia.
A mother and son are reported who both developed hairy cell leukemia. The mother aged 74 presented with pancytopenia and responded well to splenectomy. Four years later her son aged 48 presented with pancytopenia; splenectomy was less effective but he improved after treatment with interferon-alpha. Histological examination of the splenic tissue in both cases showed changes characteristic of hairy cell leukemia. This is the third report of this rare disease occurring in family members.
Begley
C G
CG
Clinical Research Unit, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.
Tait
B
B
Crapper
R M
RM
Briggs
P G
PG
Brodie
G N
GN
Mackay
I R
IR
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007943:Leukemia, Hairy Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D013156:Splenectomy
D007370:Interferon Type I; D011239:Prednisolone