Drugs to treat Inflammatory bowel diseases raise lymphoma risk

Submitted by Ross Bonander Mon 10/19/2009

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A study published online in The Lancet suggests that patients who took certain drugs in an effort to keep inflammatory bowel diseases in remission may have a significantly higher risk of developing certain lymphomas.

What diseases were being treated?

Inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

What drugs were given?

Thiopurines such as Mercaptopurine (aka 6-mercaptopurine, 6-MP, Purinethol) and Azathioprine (aka Azasan, Imuran).

What's the risk for these patients?

In all, patients seemed to have a five-fold increased risk of lymphomas, compared with those who had never taken the drugs.

What's the conclusion?

The authors of the study concluded that the benefits of thiopurines in keeping the original diseases in remission outweigh the risks of developing lymphoma.

Source: medpagetoday.com

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