Successful pregnancy after cladribine therapy for hairy cell leukemia

Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is predominantly seen in men with a median age of 52, and often treated with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (cladribine, 2-CdA). Perhaps as a result of the demographics of HCL, studies of ovarian function after such therapy are lacking, even though cladribine can induce DNA strand breaks. In this report, the first case of a patient diagnosed with HCL who then went on to a successful pregnancy is described, suggesting that fertility may be preserved in at least some female patients treated with this agent.