Although the exact cause of hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is not yet fully understood, research indicates various factors that contribute to the development of the disease.
Among these factors, the most prominent is the V600E mutation in the BRAF gene. This genetic alteration is responsible for a significant portion of HCL cases. While the BRAF mutation is believed to play a role in genetic mechanisms, how it precisely leads to leukemic transformation has not yet been fully elucidated. Furthermore, certain demographic characteristics have been observed to constitute risk factors. Particularly, men and middle-aged individuals have a higher probability of developing HCL.