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Hairy cell leukemia in first cousins and review of the literature
Author(s) -
Colovic Milica D.,
Jankovic Gradimir M.,
Wiernik Peter H.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
european journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0902-4441
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0609.2001.5790478.x
Subject(s) - human leukocyte antigen , disease , leukemia , hairy cell leukemia , linkage (software) , immunology , genetics , gene , medicine , biology , antigen , pathology
Familial hairy cell leukemia (HCL) occurs rarely. So far, 26 familial instances of HCL (in 12 families) have been reported in the literature. The consistent human leukocyte antigen (HLA) linkage could not be established in most cases of familial HCL. History of exposure to organic chemicals or employment in woodworking or farming was noted in only two out of 11 affected families. We present two familial cases of HCL as well as a thorough literature review. An influence of HLA or farming themselves on a predisposition to HCL remains unproven but does not rule out an HLA‐linked and as yet unidentified gene responsible for increased disease susceptibility. HCL in families is unlikely to be due to random patterning, but there are insufficient data so far to decisively incriminate either HLA‐related or environmental causative factors.