The Detection of BRAF-V600E mutation in hairy cell leukaemia by polymerase chain reaction and study of its associated clinicohaematological parameters

Objective: To contemplate the occurrence of a rare mutation (BRAF V600E) in the patients having Hairy cell leukemia in our setting, which would serve asuseful analytic and diagnostic criteria. Study Design: Analytical cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Oct 2017 to Oct 2018. Methodology:A sample of 36 patients with a suspicion of Hairy cell leukemia were included in this investigation. Complete blood counts, bone marrow examination (trephine biopsy and aspiration), cyto-chemistry and staining of the patients suspected to have Hairy cell leukemia was performed. PCR was done for detection of BRAF V600E mutation. Results: 29 (80.5%) cases showed a positive BRAF mutational analysis and 7 (19.4%) cases showed a negative result. Conclusion:Almost all the cases of classic Hairy cell leukemia had BRAF V600 E mutation.Isolating this mutation can be used as a regular tool in detection of disease and monitoring disease progression and relapse. (author)