Hairy Cell Leukemia
Specialized treatment for hairy cell leukemia, a rare type of chronic leukemia, with effective chemotherapy options.
Hairy Cell Leukemia
Hematologic Malignancies
Overview
Specialized treatment for hairy cell leukemia, a rare type of chronic leukemia, with effective chemotherapy options.
When to Consult
Upon diagnosis of hairy cell leukemia or abnormal blood counts.
What to Bring
Complete blood count (CBC), peripheral smear, bone marrow biopsy reports, and flow cytometry results.
Risk Factors
Causes
Treatment Options
Cladribine (2-CdA)
Purine analog chemotherapy administered as a single continuous infusion over 5-7 days. Highly effective first-line treatment with high complete remission rates (85-95%). Usually requires only one course of treatment.
Pentostatin
Purine analog chemotherapy given intravenously every 2 weeks for 3-6 months. Alternative first-line treatment option with excellent response rates. Effective for patients who cannot tolerate cladribine.
Rituximab
Monoclonal antibody targeting CD20 on B cells. Used as single-agent therapy for relapsed/refractory disease or in combination with chemotherapy. Particularly useful for patients who cannot tolerate purine analogs.
Interferon Alpha
Biological therapy that helps the immune system fight cancer cells. Less commonly used now but may be considered for patients who cannot receive purine analogs or as maintenance therapy.
Splenectomy
Surgical removal of the spleen, which is often enlarged in hairy cell leukemia. Rarely needed with modern treatments but may be considered for symptomatic splenomegaly or when other treatments fail.
Watchful Waiting
Monitoring asymptomatic patients with early-stage disease without immediate treatment. Treatment initiated when symptoms develop, blood counts worsen, or organ enlargement occurs.