Q: I am a 35 years old male suffering from hairy cell leukaemia, which has relapsed a year after one cycle of Cladribine. After that I received another cycle of Cladribine but the problem relapsed after 20 months. I have also received a combination cycle of Rituximab (eight cycles) and Pentostatin for six months but in vain. How can hairy cell leukaemia be managed?

A:In relapsed refractory hairy cell leukaemia, one can try Interferon alpha with or without splenectomy (if spleen is enlarged) and if you can go into partial or complete remission, should be considered for allogenic stem cell transplantation.