[Hairy cell leukaemia with severe bone marrow insufficiency. Complete remission after chemotherapy in two patients (author's transl)].

Comple remission was obtained in two patients with hairy cell leukaemia and severe bone marrow insufficiency, using combined chemotherapy (rubidazone, arabinosyl cytosine, 6-mercaptopurine and cyclophosphamide). The remissions -- as demonstrated by normal blood cell counts and differentials and complete disappearance of hairy cells and fibrosis in bone marrow biopsies -- have now persisted for 6 and 3 months respectively. Intensive chemotherapy should be considered in patients who, after splenectomy, still have severe bone marrow depletion with persistent anaemia, neutropenia and/or life-threatening thrombocytopenia. Protected environment in a haematology intensive care unit is a prerequisite of intensive chemotherapy in such patients.