CD103-Negative Hairy Cell Leukemia: A Case Report From University Teaching Hospital, Zambia

TL;DR

This paper reports a rare case of hairy cell leukemia in an African man who lacked a typical marker, CD103, highlighting the importance of considering this disease in patients with refractory anemia.

Contribution

The novelty lies in reporting a CD103-negative classical HCL case in an African patient, which is uncommon and expands diagnostic awareness.

Findings

A 43-year-old African male presented with refractory anemia, thrombocytopenia, and splenomegaly.

The case was diagnosed as classical HCL despite the absence of CD103 expression.

This case emphasizes the need to consider HCL in African patients with refractory anemia.

Abstract

Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is among a group of mature lymphoid B-cell disorders characterized by the identification of hairy cells and a unique genetic profile. Detection of CD103 expression on flow cytometry is the key in enumerating the immunologic score for diagnosing HCL. For a disease that is more prevalent in Caucasians and less common in African populations, we report an unusual case of CD103-negative classical HCL in a 43-year-old African male, who presented with refractory anemia, thrombocytopenia, and splenomegaly. In patients with refractory anemia, it is crucial to consider investigating HCL, as this may influence therapeutic decisions and, consequently, overall patient outcomes.

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