Sandbox: HCL therapy: Difference between revisions
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:* [[Interferon alpha]] | :* [[Interferon alpha]] | ||
:* [[Vemurafenib]] | :* [[Vemurafenib]] | ||
* The preferred drug for the initial treatment of hairy cell leukemia is either [[cladribine]] {{or}} [[pentostatin]]. |
Revision as of 23:21, 29 October 2015
Overview
Medical Therapy
- The mainstay of therapy for hairy cell leukemia patients is chemotherapy.
- Asymptomatic hairy cell leukemia patients, with no indications for therapy, may be managed by observation and close follow-up.
- Indications to initiate medical therapy among patients with hairy cell leukemia include:
- The presence of systemic symptoms such as fever, night sweats, and significant weight loss
- The presence of subcostal abdominal discomfort due splenic distension
- Positive history of recurrent infections.
- Hemoglobin concentration lower than 12 g/dl
- Platelets count lower than 100,000/mcl
- Absolute neutrophil count lower than 1000/mcl
- Pharmacological agents used for the treatment of hairy cell leukemia patients include:
- The preferred drug for the initial treatment of hairy cell leukemia is either cladribine OR pentostatin.