title: [Intermittent interferon alfa in the treatment of hairy cell leukemia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate if short and intermittent courses of human recombinant interferon alpha (IFN) are useful in the long term palliation of hairy cell leukemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine patients with hairy cell leukemia received 3 megaunits of IFN thrice a week for 12 weeks. They received 8 weeks of IFN upon relapse or after 10 months of followup every year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A hematological remission was obtained in all cases before 12 weeks. Only three patients, because of relapse, required therapy before 10 months. All the patients are alive and well after a median followup of 62 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short courses of IFN proved to be an alternative in the treatment of hairy cell leukemia. It is less expensive and was effective in the initial therapy and maintenance of selected patients with this kind of leukemia.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Hematología, Hospital Universitario José E. González, UANL, Monterrey N.L.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gómez-Almaguer
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jaime-Pérez
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Herrera-Garza
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: González-Llano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016527:Drug Costs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007943:Leukemia, Hairy Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha
vernacular_title: Interferón alfa intermitente en el tratamiento de la leucemia de células peludas.