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Hairy‐cell leukaemia simulating connective tissue disease
Author(s) -
HASSELBALCH HANS
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0036-553X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0609.1984.tb02185.x
Subject(s) - pancytopenia , connective tissue , medicine , hairy cell , immunology , disease , differential diagnosis , hairy cell leukemia , pathology , immune system , vasculitis , connective tissue disease , autoimmune disease , bone marrow , leukemia
A patient is reported, in whom clinical and biochemical evidence of connective tissue disease preceded the diagnosis of hairy‐cell leukaemia by at least 2 years. The pathogenetic mechanism(s) responsible for the coexistence of hairy‐cell leukaemia with vasculitis and rheumatic disease is discussed. It is proposed that the 2 diseases may share a common predisposing factor, or that the hairy cells may elicit disturbances in immune homeostasis, implying a dysfunction of T suppressor cells. Hairy‐cell leukaemia should be considered in the differential diagnosis in cases of unexplained febrile illness associated with pancytopenia and signs of connective tissue disease.