National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Hairy cell leukemia

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Other Names:
Leukemic reticuloendotheliosis; HCL
Categories:
Hairy cell leukemia is a rare, slow-growing cancer of the blood in which the bone marrow makes too many B cells (lymphocytes), a type of white blood cell that fights infection. The condition is named after these excess B cells which look 'hairy' under a microscope. As the number of leukemia cells increases, fewer healthy white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets are produced.[1][2]   The symptoms include a large spleen (splenomegalia) but without an increase of lymph nodes, and general symptoms such as fever, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss. Blood exams show the decreased number of blood cells and platelets. The diagnosis can be made with the biopsy of the bone marrow, blood exams showing antigens that are released by the B-cells. The leukemia cells show an specific change (variation or mutation) in a gene involved in cell growth, the BRAF gene, that increases the growth and spread of cancer cells. The decision to treat depends in whether or not symptoms, splenomegaly, or other complications are present. About 10% of all patients will never require treatment.[3][4] The cause is still unknown. While there is no cure, treatment can lead to remission which can last for years.[1][2]  
Last updated: 2/7/2018

FDA-Approved Treatments

The medication(s) listed below have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as orphan products for treatment of this condition. Learn more orphan products.

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Hairy cell leukemia. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • MayoClinic.com has an information page on Hairy cell leukemia.
  • MedlinePlus was designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, and it provides more information about this topic.
  • The National Cancer Institute provides the most current information on cancer for patients, health professionals, and the general public.
  • The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.

In-Depth Information

  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Hairy cell leukemia. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

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  1. Hairy cell leukemia. MayoClinic.com. 2015; https://www.mayoclinic.org/es-es/diseases-conditions/hairy-cell-leukemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20372956.
  2. Dugdale DC & Mason JR. Hairy cell leukemia. MedlinePlus. 2017; http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000592.htm.
  3. Hairy Cell Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version. American Cancer Society. 2016; https://www.cancer.gov/types/leukemia/hp/hairy-cell-treatment-pdq#section/_1.
  4. Tallman MS. Treatment of hairy cell leukemia. UpToDate. November 27, 2017; https://www.uptodate.com/contents/treatment-of-hairy-cell-leukemia#H5.