Now there is an effective form of treatment in addition to or instead of removing the spleen . 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CdA) has shown itself to be an extremely useful drug, offering complete remission in 70 to 80 percent of patients. The 2-CdA is administered in a one-week intravenous treatment. Although there are often long-term responses, it is too early to know if such responses will result in cure.
Interferon-alpha is still an effective drug in patients with this disease. However, because of the availability of 2-CdA administered over one week versus the continued application of interferon-alpha by injections as well as the somewhat unpleasant side effects, most physicians and patients prefer the use of 2-CdA.
2-deoxycoformycin (Pentostatin) also is effective in hairy cell leukemia and is generally given intravenously every other week for three to six months, offering approximately a 50 percent response.
Prolymphocytic Leukemia
It is difficult to distinguish this rare leukemia from chronic lymphocytic leukemia and some types of lymphoma.
Like hairy cell leukemia, the diagnosis is made by examining the cells in blood and bone marrow samples. Even the most current technologic methods find it difficult to specifically identify lymphocytic cells as to their placement in the diagnosis of CLL or lymphoma.
The clinical course is moderately aggressive with enlarging spleens, lymph nodes and progressive blood count change.
