A 45-year-old male, who was born in Miyazaki prefecture, was admitted with epistaxis. Hematological examinations revealed as follows; hemoglobin 6.2 g/dl and platelets 14000/mm3 and leukocytes 10600/mm3 with 67% of leukemic cells with convoluted nuclei.
Lymphnode and bone marrow biopsies were compatible with diagnosis of adult T-cell Leukemia. Anti-Adult T-cell Leukemia Virus Antibodies were positive. In the examination of phenotype, however, the leukemic cells expressed OKT4 and OKT8 simultaneously. Though conventional chemotherapy was uneffective, treatment with alpha interferon improved the symptoms and laboratory data. From these results, interferon seems useful for the therapy of ATL in cases of unresponsiveness to the conventional chemotherapy.
