Bone densitometry and histomorphometry in patients with hairy cell leukemia.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha, the cytokine that participates in the autocrine growth control of hairy cell leukemia has strong bone resorptive properties. This prompted us to look for bone involvement in HCL. Bone mineral density (BMD) was not decreased in 14 HCL patients who did not have radiographic evidence of bone destruction.