Hairy cell leukemia
a histo-cytochemical and ultra-structural study
Keywords:
Hairy cell leukemia, Electron microscopy, Monoclonal antibodies, Histo-cytochemistryAbstract
We studied five patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL) diagnosed within the last ten years at the Department of Hematology of Universidade Federal de São Paulo - Escola Paulista de Medicina. Our purpose was to analyze the value of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) by comparing this method with the conventional ones. At diagnosis, patients presented weight loss, spleen enlargement and hairy cells (HC) in peripheral blood and bone marrow slides. HC was characterized by morphology and tartrate test resistance in the acid phosphatase reaction (TRAP). At the evaluation time, the amount of HC ranged from 1% to 85% of WBC count. All patients, except two, had phenotype B. In these last two, TRAP as well as phenotype B could not be documented due to low HC numbers in their exams. Cytoplasmatic projections and the absence of lamellar ribosomic complex were the most frequent ultrastructural findings, even in those patients with the lowest HC numbers. Based on these features, TEM is an efficient method for searching for HC at HCL diagnosis and during the course of the disease.
Downloads
References
Chang KL, Stroup R, Weiss LM. Hairy cell leukemia. Current status. Am J Clin Pathol 1992; 97 (5): 719-38.
Bouroncle BA, Wiserman BK, Doan CA. Leukemic reticuloendotheliosis. Blood 1958; 13: 609-29.
Golomb HM, Catovsky D, Golde DW. Hairy cell leukemia: a clinical review based on 71 cases. Ann Intern Med 1978; 89: 677-89.
Katayama I, Yang JPS. Reassessment of a cytochemical test for differential diagnosis of leukemic reticuloendotheliosis. Am J Clin Pathol 1977; 68: 268-72.
Burns GR, Cawley JC, Woman CP. Multiple heavy chains isotypes on the surface of the cells of hairy cell leukemia. Blood 1978; 2: 1132-47.
Variakojis D, Vardiman JW, Golomb HM. Cytochemistry of hairy cells. Cancer 1980; 45: 72-7.
Dacie JV, Lewis SM. Practical haematology. 6th edition. London: Churchill Livingstone; 1984: 84-86.
Faguet GB, Satya-Prakash KL, Agee, JF. Cytochemical, cytogenetic, immunophenotypic and tumorigenic characterization of two hairy cell lines. Blood 1988, 71: 422-9.
Burns GF, Woman CP, Cawley JC. Fluctuations in the T and B characteristics of two cases of T-cell hairy-cell leukemia. Clin Exp Immunol 1980; 39: 76-82.1980.
Demeter J, Pálóczi K, Földi J, Hokland M, Hokland D, Benczúr M, Lehoczky D. Immunological and molecular biological identification of a two case of T-hairy cell leukaemia. Eur J Haematol 1989; 43: 339-45.
Palumbo AP, Conadini P, Battaglio S, Omede P, Coda R, Boccadoro M, Pileri A. Dual rearrangement of immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor gene in a case of T-cell hairy-cell leukemia. Eur J Haematolol 1991; 46: 71-6.
Catovsky MD, O'Brien M, Melo JV, Warde J, Brozovic M. Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) variant: an intermediate disease between HCl e B- prolymphocytic leukemia. Semin Oncol 1984;11 (4): 362-9.
Daniel MT., Flandrin G. The structure of abnormal cells in hairy cell (tricholeukocytic) leukemia, with special reference to their in vitro phagocytic capacity. Lab Invest 1974; 30: 1-8.
Katayama I, LI CY, Yam LT. Ultrastructural characteristics of the "hairy cells" of leukemic reticuloendotheliosis. Am J Pathol 1972; 67: 361-70.
Rosner MC, Golomb HM. Lamella complex in hairy cell leukemia. Lab Invest 1980; 42 (2): 236-47.
