[2 cases of hairy cell leukemia]

Abstract

Two cases of tricholeukaemia are reported. In both, onset and course of the disease were dominated by infectious episodes of varying gravity. Diagnosis was based on the finding in the blood and bone marrow of mononucleate cells containing the characteristic cytoplasmatic projections, best recognised in the phase contrast microscope, and on the cytochemical finding of intense positivity of the acid phosphatase reaction, that a very serious septic state starting from a dental abscess was possible in a patients by associating infusions of paps of leucocyte concentrates with massive target antibiotic therapy. Splenectomy carried out in the same patient led to an increase in the number of circulating platelets and leukocytes. After operation, two episodes of cutaneous inflammation presented by the same patient were less serious than similar previous infectious episodes.