Hairy cell leukemia: Experience of two cases in Taiwan

Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is rare in the Far East. HCL is an uncommon chronic B cell lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by splenomegaly, cytopenias, and neoplastic "hairy cells" in blood, marrow, and other hematopoietic organs. Cases reported from Japan have atypical features different from cases from Western countries. Here, we report two Chinese patients with HCL, and attempt to determine whether their clinical features are more similar to those of the Western countries or to those from Japan. Both patients are middle-aged women with mild to moderate splenomegaly and cytopenias. Their hairy cells showed strong tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity and had a monoclonal B cell immunophenotype. Both patients were treated with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CdA) and went into complete clinical and hematological remission 3 to 6 weeks after treatment. Our data, and previously published studies, confirm that 2-CdA is the most effective therapy for HCL, and should be used as the first line therapy for all patients with HCL. The Chinese cases of HCL had clinical and cytological features similar to cases from the West.