IBD Paients May Be At Increased Risk Of SKin Cancer

According to the results of two new studies published in the November issue of the journal Gastroenterology, some patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may be at increased risk for skin cancer. Investigators suggest that this is due to their use of certain immunosuppressant drugs used to treat the intestinal disorder. Specifically, IBD patients using thiopurines had a significantly increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancer. The second study found that men with Crohn's disease may already be at increased risk for basal cell carcinoma. The use of thiopurines seemed to increases this risk in this study.