Hairy cell leukaemia in the Bloemfontein academic hospitals.

Objectives: To study the clinical presentation, treatment and outcome of patients diagnosed with hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) in the Bloemfontein Academic Hospitals during the past 21 years.

Design: Retrospective study. All HCL patients diagnosed from 1975 to 1996.

Setting: Haematology clinics of the Universitas and Pelonomi Hospitals in Bloemfontein.

Subjects: All HCL patients diagnosed from 1975 to 1996.

Main Outcome Measures: To determine the clinical and demographic profile, as well as response to treatment, of HCL patients in this region.

Results: A total of 16 HCL patients were studied. There were more males (13) than females and the mean age of the patients was 58 years (35 to 82 year; SD14.8). No Black patients were diagnosed. The patients mostly presented with a cytopenia and splenomegaly was present in 12 of the 14 patients for which spleen size was noted. All of the patients had a splenectomy and six were also treated with 2'-deoxycoformycin (Pentostatin). All six of the patient showed a response to treatment with this purine analogue.

Conclusions: The presentation of HCL in the Bloemfontein academic hospitals is similar to what is seen world-wide. However, to evaluate the durability of the response to treatment with the purine analogues. Long term follow up is needed.