Azathioprine-Treated IBD Patients Not at Increased Risk of Lymphoma

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Azathioprine-Treated IBD Patients Not at Increased Risk of Lymphoma

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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Dec 10 - Patients with inflammatory bowel disease

(IBD) do not appear to be at increased risk of developing Hodgkin's or

non-Hodgkin's lymphoma compared with the general population, retrospective

study results suggest.

Dr. D. and colleagues from the University of Pennsylvania in

Philadelphia identified 6605 Crohn's disease patients, 10,391 ulcerative

colitis patients and 60,506 controls from the UK's General Practice Research

Database who were followed for an average of 3.7, 3.9 and 4.4 years,

respectively.

The incidence of lymphoma was not elevated in IBD patients compared with

controls, the investigators report in the November issue of

Gastroenterology. In 1465 IBD patients treated with an average of 106 mg of

azathioprine per day for 2 years, the relative risk of lymphoma was 1.27.

" This study provides strong evidence that IBD is not a risk factor for

lymphoma, " Dr. told Reuters Health. " While the study cannot completely

rule out that azathioprine therapy for IBD results in a small increased risk

of lymphoma, it strongly suggests that this therapy does not result in a

large increase in the risk of lymphoma. "

This information is " important for physicians and patients considering

azathioprine therapy for IBD, " Dr. said.

In an editorial, Dr. V. Loftus, Jr., and a colleague from the Mayo

Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, believe that " whether or not treatment of

IBD with azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, and other immunosuppressive or

biologic agents results in a small increased risk of lymphoma remains an

open question. " To find the answer, they suggest setting up a registry of

IBD patients treated with these agents.

Gastroenterology 2001;121:1080-1087,1239-1242.