title: Complete remission of hairy cell leukemia variant (HCL-v) complicated by red cell aplasia post treatment with rituximab.
abstract: Hairy cell leukemia variant (HCL-v) is a rare form of a chronic B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. Unlike typical hairy cell leukemia (HCL) where the complete response (CR) rate to 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine and 2'-deoxycoformycin can approach about 90%, in HCL-v CR is rare and partial response (PR) occurs in approximately 50% with these agents. Rituximab treatment in relapsed or refractory HCL results in a CR of 13% to 53%, but its use in HCL-v has not been reported in the literature to our knowledge. We describe a patient with HCL-v, whose course was previously complicated by pure red cell aplasia who achieved CR after treatment with rituximab. We also briefly review outcomes of treatments used in HCL-v reported in the current literature.
authors.affiliation: Haematology Service, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, St Andrew's Place, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. hangquach@optusnet.com.au
authors.forename: Hang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Quach
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Januszewicz
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Westerman
mesh_terms: D015762:2-Chloroadenosine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003839:Deoxyadenosines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018450:Disease Progression; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007943:Leukemia, Hairy Cell / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012008:Recurrence; D012010:Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D012074:Remission Induction; D000069283:Rituximab; D013156:Splenectomy; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003839:Deoxyadenosines; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D015762:2-Chloroadenosine; D000069283:Rituximab; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone; C055994:2-chloro-3'-deoxyadenosine