Hairy cell leukemia.

Six patients of 'Hairy cell leukemia' (HCL) were seen by us between 1982 and 1987. Five patients had anaemia and two had leukopaenia. None of the patients had thrombocytopaenia at presentation. All the patients were positive for tartarate resistant acid phosphatase. Two had B and one had T cell surface markers. Characteristic cytoplasmic projections and ribosomal lamellar complexes were seen on electron microscopy in four patients. Three patients were treated with splenectomy with satisfactory results.