1986 Volume 27 Issue 3 Pages 391-397
A case with hairy cell leukemia (HCL) who achieved a complete remission after treatment with recombinant interferon-α (rIFN-α) is reported.
A 58 year-old male with leukocytosis was admitted to our ward for further examination in November, 1982. On admission, leukocyte count was 10.7×109/l with 72% hairy cells (HC). Hb was 9.3g/dl and platelet count was 105×109/l. Bone marrow aspiration was failed and bone marrow biopsy findings were consistent with HCL. Splenectomy was not indicated in this case because of a mild splenomegaly and bone marrow dysfunction, so he was discharged for further observation in out-patient state. But a progression of anemia and thrombocytopenia, 7.0g/dl and 43×109/l, respectively resulted in re-admissisn in March, 1984.
3×106 IU of rIFN-α daily intramusclar injection was chosed with great benefit. Five months later, when total IFN doses were 140×106 IU, Hb, WBC and platelet counts were normalized. The differentlal count showed reappearance of neutrophils and monocytes, whereas HC was absent in the peripheral blood. At the same time, bone marrow biopsy showed a disappearance of HC and a recovery of normal hematopoiesis, indicating in a complete remission. Remission duration reached 12 months with 3×106 IU of rIFN-α weekly intramuscular injection. Although the therapy of this patient with rIFN-α achieved in great success, the mechanism of this action remained to be clarified. But it was suggested that IFN-α acted as an antiproliferative agent rather than as a potentiator of natural killer (NK) cell because his NK cell activity was not improved by IFN-α treatment.
