2-Chlorodeoxyadenosine to Treat Refractory Histiocytosis X

Abstract
Treatment of histiocytosis X is palliative at best. It includes corticosteroids, alkylating agents, antimetabolites, vinca alkaloids, and irradiation1. Since 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine, a purine substrate analogue active against lymphoid cancers,2 is toxic to monocytes in vitro,3 and since tissue histiocytes are derived from circulating monocytes as they move from the intravascular space to soft tissues, we administered 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine to a patient with histiocytosis X.