[Hairy cell leukemia: authors' own experience (1977-1998)]

Hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) is a rare, clinically and haematologically well characterised entity. The prognosis of patients with hairy cell leukaemia has significantly improved due to the new therapeutic approaches. Development of diagnostic and therapeutic methods, together with the analysis of their own hairy cell leukaemia patients, is reviewed by the authors. Between 1977 and 1998 twenty five patients (16 male, 9 female) were treated. The malignant cells were usually analysed by morphological and cytochemical methods and recently flow cytometric analysis could be performed in eight patients. Splenectomy with lethal outcome in six patients was performed in 21 cases. Approximately one third of patients received interferon, while 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine was given only to three patients. Favourable experiences obtained by splenectomy and efficacy of interferon treatment are emphasised, but according to the literature and their own results administration of purine analogues can be highly recommended in the future.