Recombinant alpha-2 interferon for treatment of hairy cell leukemia without prior splenectomy.

Splenectomy has been the traditional initial treatment for hairy cell leukemia, with medical treatment reserved for resistant disease. This report describes two patients treated with recombinant alpha-2 interferon without prior splenectomy. Both patients responded well to interferon therapy. Alpha-2 interferon may become the initial therapy of choice for hairy cell leukemia.