Hairy cell leukemia. Durability of response to splenectomy in 26 patients and treatment of relapse with androgens in six patients.

Abstract

Twenty-three of 26 patients with hairy cell leukemia evaluable for response to splenectomy had significant improvement in anemia, thrombocytopenia, and/or neutropenia. Eight of the 23 had a recurrence of cytopenia after a median response duration of 4 to 5 months (range, 1-22). The remaining 15 patients did not have a recurrence of cytopenia at 20 months median follow-up (range, 1-76). Six patients with postsplenectomy cytopenia were given androgenic steroids. Two of the six had an improvement in anemia and thrombocytopenia, and a third patient had an improvement in neutropenia. It was concluded that, although most patients with hairy cell leukemia have initial improvement in cytopenia with splenectomy, a significant number of them either fail to respond or have recurrent cytopenia after initial response to splenectomy. A trial of androgenic steroids is a reasonable therapeutic option in these patients. Alternative therapies are reviewed and recommendations made.

• Authors: M J Magee, S McKenzie, D A Filippa, Z A Arlin, T S Gee, B D Clarkson
• Journal: Cancer (Cancer) Vol. 56 Issue 11 Pg. 2557-62 (Dec 01 1985) ISSN: 0008-543X [Print] United States
• PMID: 4052933 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anabolic Agents
• Hemoglobins
• Fluoxymesterone
• Oxymetholone

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Anabolic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Fluoxymesterone (therapeutic use)
• Hemoglobins (analysis)
• Humans
• Leukemia, Hairy Cell (blood, drug therapy, therapy)
• Leukocyte Count
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neutrophils
• Oxymetholone (therapeutic use)
• Platelet Count
• Recurrence
• Splenectomy