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Increased risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer linked to IBD
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Individuals with irritable bowel disease could face an increased risk of basal cell skin cancer, according to a study.
Canadian researchers identified 9,618 individuals with IBD from the University of Manitoba IBD Epidemiology Database and matched them with 91,378 randomly selected controls with similar demographic features.
Basal cell skin cancer was diagnosed in 1,696 individuals, with squamous cell skin cancer found in 341 individuals. Those with IBD had an increased risk for basal cell skin cancer compared with controls (HR=1.20; 95% CI, 1.03-1.40).
Use of thiopurines among patients with IBD increased the risk of squamous cell skin cancer (HR=5.40; 95% CI, 2.00-14.56).
In a case-controlled, nested analysis of individuals with IBD, use of thiopurines was also associated with squamous cell skin cancer (OR=20.52; 95% CI, 2.42-173.81).
“The use of immunosuppressant medications, in particular thiopurines, markedly increased the risk of [squamous cell skin cancer] among individuals with IBD,” the researchers said.
Disclosure: Charles N. Bernstein has received consultant fees from Abbott Canada, Astra Zeneca Canada, Shire Canada, and Janssen Canada for the past 2 years and has received a research grant from Abbott Canada and Prometheus Laboratories and an unrestricted educational grant from Axcan Pharma.