Hairy Cell Leukemia-Associated Familial Lymphoproliferative Disorder

doi:10.1059/0003-4819-90-2-174

Hairy Cell Leukemia-Associated Familial Lymphoproliferative Disorder

Immunologic Abnormalities in Unaffected Family Members

Durham, North Carolina

Abstract

Three generations of a family were affected by hematologic malignancies: the proband had hairy cell leukemia, his brother chronic lymphocytic leukemia, his nephew cutaneous and central nervous system lymphoma, and his father chronic granulocytic leukemia. There was no clinical evidence for immune deficiency in 17 unaffected family members. Most family members had normal serum immunoglobulins and peripheral B-cells, but some had decreased T cells. Lymphocyte responses to phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A were markedly reduced, while pokeweed mitogen responses were essentially normal. Delayed hypersensitivity responses determined by response to a 23-antigen skin test panel were markedly diminished, as were viral antibody titers. The decreased immune function in these family members suggests a role for the immune system in the emergence of hairy cell leukemia and other lymphoid malignancies, though further follow-up will be needed to see if other family members develop malignancies.

Article and Author Information

▸From the Department of Medicine, Veterans Administration Hospital, and Duke University Medical and Comprehensive Cancer Centers; Durham, North Carolina.
Grant support: by Research Administration, Veterans Administration Hospital, U.S. Public Health Service Grant #CA11265 and #CA05634 from the National Cancer Institute.
Portions of this paper appeared in abstract form in Clin Res 23:342, 1975.
▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Harvey Jay Cohen, M.D.; Medical Service, Veterans Administration Hospital, 508 Fulton St.; Durham, NC 27705.
- Received June 12, 1978.
- Accepted October 9, 1978.