Arthritis medication raises risk of developing skin cancer, scientists find
MEDICINE for rheumatoid arthritis could cause skin cancer, experts said.Sufferers treated with TNF inhibitors, drugs which act on the immune system, were 79% more likely to develop melanoma, a study in France found.
The medication includes antibodies infliximab and adalimumab and the protein etanercept. But experts at Paris-Sud University found using them as treatment did not increase the risk of malignancy.
Scientists wrote in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases journal: “TNF inhibitor treatment does not increase the risk of malignancy, particularly lymphoma. However, it does appear to increase the risk of skin cancer and melanoma.”
Deborah Symmons, Professor of Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Epidemiology at the Manchester University-based Arthritis Research UK Epidemiology Unit, said: “This research confirms what we already know and in fact simply brings together the results of existing studies.
“We have known for some time that there may be a slightly increased risk of skin cancer in patients using anti-TNF drugs and healthcare professionals discuss this with patients prescribed this medication.
“Skin cancer can be readily treated when diagnosed early and this latest publication should give no cause for alarm.”======================================================================
.mirror.co.uk/news/health-news/2011/09/08/arthritis-medication-raises-risk-of-developing-skin-cancer-scientists-find-115875-23403901/#ixzz1XPVwUXP8
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