Durable Resolution of Severe Psoriasis in a Patient Treated with Pentostatin for Hairy Cell Leukemia: A Case Report

INTRODUCTION: Pentostatin (2′-deoxycoformycin) and cladribine (2-chlorodeoxyadenosine) are adenosine analogues widely used to treat lymphoid malignancies, mainly hairy cell leukemia (HCL). Oral or parenteral adenosine analogues have been also used as immunomodulatory agents in multiple sclerosis and in acute graft-versus-host disease. CASE REPORT: Here, we report the case of a 43-year-old patient with a history of extensive psoriasis who later developed HCL. RESULTS: The patient had achieved complete remission of both psoriasis and HCL after receiving intravenous infusions of pentostatin. It is worth noting that cladribine has already been reported to treat plaque psoriasis lesions in two patients with HCL and in a third patient with gastric marginal zone B cell lymphoma [1]. CONCLUSION: We believe that adenosine analogues constitute a promising therapeutic option for moderate to severe psoriasis, especially for severe and refractory psoriasis, as well as for patients with adjacent lymphoid malignancies.