[Efficacy of rituximab in hairy cell leukemia].
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.
Malfuson
Jean-Valère
JV
Service d'hématologie, HIA Percy, Clamart (92). hematologie.percy@wanadoo.fr
Doghmi
Kamal
K
Fagot
Thierry
T
Souleau
Bertrand
B
De Revel
Thierry
T
Nedellec
Gérard
G
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
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab