What organs does hairy cell leukemia affect?

Hairy cell leukemia most commonly affects the bone marrow and spleen. However, because HCL travels between the bone marrow, spleen, liver and lymph nodes via the bloodstream, it may potentially affect any part of the body that the blood circulates to.

Who does hairy cell leukemia affect?

Most of the affected individuals are males 50 years of age or older. However, the disorder may occur in individuals between 20 to 80 years of age. Hairy cell leukemia accounts for one to two percent of all cases of adult leukemia. It was first identified in 1958.

Which organ of the body is affected by leukemia?

Leukemia starts in the soft, inner part of the bones (bone marrow), but often moves quickly into the blood. It can then spread to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, central nervous system and other organs.

Can hairy cell leukemia lead to other cancers?

Increased risk of second cancers

Some studies have found that people with hairy cell leukemia may have an increased risk of developing a second type of cancer. It isn't clear whether this risk is due to hairy cell leukemia's effect on the body or if the risk comes from the medications used to treat hairy cell leukemia.

How does hairy cell leukemia affect the spleen?

Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a chronic leukemia caused by an abnormal change in a B lymphocyte. Two symptoms of HCL that lead to a diagnosis include an enlarged spleen and an unexpected decrease in normal blood cell counts.

Hairy cell leukemia

Can hairy cell leukemia cause back pain?

Abstract. The authors report on a 54-year-old man who presented with a lumbar vertebral body lesion and an adjacent epidural lesion that was found to be hairy cell leukemia (HCL). The patient presented with gradual onset of back pain and intermittent lower-extremity radicular symptoms.

Can you live a full life with hairy cell leukemia?

Generally for people with hairy cell leukaemia: around 95 out of every 100 (around 95%) will survive their leukaemia for 5 years or more after they are diagnosed.

Is hairy leukemia a terminal?

Hairy cell leukemia is treatable, but not curable. While the cause is not known, the treatment is usually very effective in helping patients lead a normal life.

Is hairy cell leukemia an autoimmune disease?

Background. Case reports suggest that hairy cell leukemia (HCL) may be associated with autoimmune conditions, however no systematic investigations in this area have been undertaken.

Is hairy cell leukemia a form of non Hodgkin's lymphoma?

Hairy cell leukaemia variant

Despite its name, it is classed as a form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It is very rare. Like classical hairy cell leukaemia, the abnormal cells in HCL-V look hairy under a microscope.

Does leukemia affect the kidneys?

Kidney involvement in leukemia and lymphoma can be quite extensive. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is quite prevalent in these patients, with prerenal and acute tubular necrosis being the most common etiologies. However other prerenal, intrinsic, and obstructive etiologies are possible.

Can leukemia affect your liver?

Leukemia cells may build up in the liver and spleen, making them larger. This might be noticed as a fullness or swelling of the belly, or feeling full after eating only a small amount. The lower ribs usually cover these organs, but when the organs are enlarged the doctor can feel them.

Can leukemia spread to liver?

The leukemia cells enter the blood quickly and sometimes can spread to the liver, spleen, central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), and testicles.

Is hairy cell leukemia considered CLL?

Hairy cell leukemia(HCL) is a rare subtype of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)that progresses slowly. HCL is caused when bone marrow makes too many B cells (lymphocytes), a type of white blood cell that fights infection.

What were your first signs of leukemia?

What happens when you have too many B cells?

When you have B-cell lymphoma, your body makes too many abnormal B cells. These cells can't fight infections well. They can also spread to other parts of your body. There are two types of lymphoma: Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Does hairy cell leukemia run in families?

HCL is more common in men than in women. There is no clear evidence that HCL runs in families or is caused by specific environmental factors. The disease is called hairy cell leukemia because the leukemia cells have long thin projections that look like hairs.

Does hairy cell leukemia have stages?

There is no standard staging system for hairy cell leukemia.

Hairy (leukemia) cells are found in the blood and bone marrow. The number of red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets may be lower than normal. The spleen may be larger than normal.

How long is chemo for hairy cell leukemia?

Pentostatin. Pentostatin given intravenously every other week for 3 to 6 months produces a 50% to 76% complete response rate and an 80% to 87% overall response rate.

Can you recover from hairy cell leukemia?

The 5-year event-free survival rate after treatment is approximately 90 percent of patients initially treated with cladribine. The advent of cladribine therapy has resulted in approximately an 85 percent rate of complete remission and approximately 10 percent rate of partial response.

What are the side effects of cladribine?

Is hairy cell leukemia acute or chronic?

HCL-V and classic hairy cell leukaemia are both chronic leukaemias. They develop slowly from cells called B lymphocytes.

Does leukemia come on suddenly?

Acute leukemia may cause signs and symptoms that are similar to the flu. They come on suddenly within days or weeks. Chronic leukemia often causes only a few symptoms or none at all. Signs and symptoms usually develop gradually.

What is another name for hairy cell leukemia?

Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) was originally described as histiocytic leukemia, malignant reticulosis, or lymphoid myelofibrosis in publications dating back to the 1920s.

Why does leukemia cause headaches?

Causes of headaches in leukaemia

Low levels of oxygen in the brain can cause the surrounding arteries to swell, leading to headaches. Other symptoms of leukaemia-related anaemia include weakness and fatigue, breathlessness, pale skin, dizziness and poor concentration.