title: [Efficacy of rituximab in hairy cell leukemia].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rituximab is an alternative treatment for hairy cell leukemia, when the standard treatments are unavailable.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 82-year-old woman was diagnosed with hairy cell leukemia. The severity of her neutropenia ruled out purine analogs, while heart disease and age both contraindicated use of interferon. Rituximab, in four weekly treatments, was effective from the first treatment and the positive response was sustained thereafter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rituximab may be used to treat hairy cell leukemia, especially for patients refractory to purine analogs or after relapse or in the case of severe neutropenia, when interferon is contraindicated.
authors.affiliation: Service d'hématologie, HIA Percy, Clamart (92). hematologie.percy@wanadoo.fr
authors.forename: Jean-Valère
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Malfuson
authors.forename: Kamal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doghmi
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fagot
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Souleau
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: De Revel
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nedellec
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007943:Leukemia, Hairy Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications; D000069283:Rituximab
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab