Leukemia Research
Volume 29, Issue 8 , Pages 967-969, August 2005

Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) with extensive myelofibrosis responds to thalidomide

Department of Hematology, Oncology and Clinical Immunology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany

Received 13 December 2004 published online 07 March 2011.

Abstract 

We present a 75-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital because of splenomegaly, transfusion-dependent anemia and thrombocytopenia. The diagnosis of idiopathic myelofibrosis was suggested by the bone marrow trephine biopsy, which was hypocellular with myelofibrosis. Thalidomide was started at a daily dose of 100mg/d and increased to 400mg/d. Within 12 weeks, thrombocytes increased to 100.000/μl, hemoglobin normalized, lasting for about 11 months. Then, thalidomide had to be discontinued because of mild polyneuropathy. A second bone marrow biopsy showed fibrosis as well as a diffuse infiltration of the bone marrow (80%) by lymphocytes with expression of CD11c, CD19, CD20, CD103. Tartrate resistant acid phosphatase test (TRAP) was also positive. Hairy cell leukemia was diagnosed and he was administered 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CDA) achieving a complete remission.

Keywords: Hairy cell leukemia, Thalidomide, Myelofibrosis

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PII: S0145-2126(05)00051-2

doi:10.1016/j.leukres.2005.01.007

Leukemia Research
Volume 29, Issue 8 , Pages 967-969, August 2005

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