Hairy cell leukemia with an associated lupus-type anticoagulant

Hairy cell leukemia is a rare, lymphoproliferative disorder usually of B-cell origin. It affects men more often than women by a ratio of 4:1, with approximately 600 cases per year in the United States. Leukemias in general are known to be associated with coagulopathies; however, the case reported here represents only the fourth reported case of hairy cell leukemia with an associated lupus anticoagulant. The lupus anticoagulant is unusual in that it is not truly a coagulation-preventing entity, but rather may result in a hypercoagulable state. The nomenclature for this manifestation derives from its ability to interfere with in vitro phospholipid-dependent tests of coagulation. This report includes a review and discussion of the case presented, as well as a review of both hairy cell leukemia and the lupus anticoagulant.