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Abstract
Hairy cell leukemia is a rare, lymphoproliferative disorder usually of B-cell origin.
It affects men more often than women by a ratio of 4:1, with approximately
600 cases per year in the United States. Leukemias in general are known
to be associated with coagulopathies; however, the case reported here represents
only the fourth reported case of hairy cell leukemia with an associated lupus
anticoagulant. The lupus anticoagulant is unusual in that it is not truly a coagulation-
preventing entity, but rather may result in a hypercoagulable state. The nomenclature.for this manifestation derives from its ability to interfere with in
vitro phospholipid-dependent tests of coagulation. This report includes a review
and discussion of the case presented, as well as a review of both hairy cell
leukemia and the lupus anticoagulant.