Unclear. A high intracellular concentration of cladribine is believed to inhibit ribonucleotide reductase, causing subsequent DNA strand breaks and inhibition of DNA synthesis and repair.

Hairy cell leukemia.

Metabolized in the liver and excreted in the urine. Half-life: 5.4 hours.

♦ Adult: 0.09 mg/kg per day for 7 consecutive days for a total dose of 0.63 mg/kg, or as a continuous 7-day infusion of the total 0.63-mg/kg dose.

♦ Pediatric: Safety and efficacy not established.

As a 24-hour infusion: Dilute the appropriate dose in 500 mL 0.9% sodium chloride. It is stable for 24 hours in a polyvinyl chloride bag at room temperature and ambient lighting. As a single continuous 7-day infusion: Withdraw the appropriate dose (7 × 0.09 mg/kg) from the individual vials using a 0.22-micron filter, and add to the infusion reservoir. Dilute with
bacteriostatic 0.9% sodium chloride containing benzyl alcohol preservative, drawn through a 0.22-micron syringe filter to a total volume of 100 mL. Do not use dextrose in water as a diluent because it accelerates the degradation of the drug. Stable for 7 days in the Pharmacia Deltec medication cassette.