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Treatment of relapsing hairy cell leukemia with rituximab: a case report Volume 23, issue 1, janvier-février-mars 2004

Authors
Service de pharmacie‐stérilisation, Hôpitaux universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg Département d‘hématologie et d‘oncologie, Hôpitaux universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg

Hairy cell leukemia is an uncommon chronic B cell lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by the presence of hairy cell in the peripheral blood, bone marrow and spleen, but also by a resistance to conventional chemotherapeutic agents. The treatment is mainly based on purine analogues (pentostatine ‐‐ Nipent ® and cladribine ‐‐ Leustatine ®) and interferon alpha. Despite a good overall response rate of more than 85% with the purine analogues, resistance may occur in some patients at the first course or later on. Recent papers suggest interesting activity of the anti‐CD 20 monoclonal antibody, rituximab ‐‐ Mabthera ® in the management of refractory hairy cell leukemia. We report the first case of relapsing hairy cell leukemia treated with rituximab in Strasbourg University Hospital oncology unit.