FOLLOW-UP OF PATIENTS WITH HAIRY CELL LEUKEMIA AFTER TREATMENT WITH CLADRIBINE

• Main Author: Peter Černelč
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Slovenian Medical Association 2004-12-01
• Series: Zdravniški Vestnik
• Subjects: hairy cell leukaemia; cladribine; responses; toxicities
• Online Access: http://vestnik.szd.si/index.php/ZdravVest/article/view/2420

<p>Background. The long-term outcome in 16 patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL) treated with cladribine between 1995 and 2003 is reported.</p><p>Patients and methods. Cladribine was administered to 13 patients in a dose 0.1 mg/kg/day for 7 days, and the same daily dose was applied once a week for 6 weeks in 3 patients. Their mean age was 57 years (range 32–67) and the male to female ratio 8:1. Four patients had also received a prior therapy with interferon and one was splenectomised.</p><p>Results. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 12 (75%) patients and partial remission (PR) in 4 (25%) of cases. With a follow up of 9 years in 12 patients CR lasted between 18 and 88 months (mean 68), 3 (25%) of them relapsed after 54–80 months (mean 71) while 4 patients with PR progressed after 40 to76 months (mean 63). Six patients had an infection prior to or during the treatment.</p><p>Conclusions. In HCL patients cladribine treatment yields high percentage of CR and durable response, tolerable toxicity and prolonged survival.<br /><br /></p>