Title:Is there a Link between Non Melanoma Skin Cancer and Hydrochlorothiazide?
Volume: 17
Issue: 3
Author(s): Luca Gallelli, Erika Cione, Antonio Siniscalchi*, Gianfranco Vasta, Antonio Guerra, Andrea Scaramuzzino, Lucia Longo, Lucia Muraca, Giovambattista De Sarro, “G & SP” Working Group, Giacomo Leuzzi, Antonio Gerace, Antonio Scuteri, Piero Vasapollo, Vincenzo Natale, Stefania Zampogna and Filippo Luciani
Affiliation:
- Department of Neurology, Annunziata Hospital,
Cosenza, Italy
Keywords:
Hydrochlorothiazide, non-melanoma, skin cancer, hypertension, pharmacology, BCC, SCC.
Abstract:
Aims: Here in we evaluated the association between the use of Hydrochlorothiazide
(HCTZ) and the risk of NMSC both, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
Background: Even though the use of HCTZ is not linked with the development of serious adverse
drug reactions, non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) has been reported in patients treated with the
drug in recent years, most likely due to its photosensitizing ability.
Objective: To evaluate the statistically significant difference (P<0.05) in the development of NMSC
between HCTZ users and non-users and the correlation (P<0.05) between HCTZ use and NMSC.
Methods: We performed a retrospective study on patients referred to general practitioners who developed
skin cancer or NMSC whether or not they were treated with antihypertensive drugs. Controls
were matched with the test by age and sex. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) for skin cancer
and NMSC associated with hydrochlorothiazide using conditional logistic regression.
Results: We enrolled 19,320 patients in the present study, out of a total of 10,110 (52.3%) who
were treated with antihypertensive drugs. Of 10,110 patients, 3,870 were treated with HCTZ
(38.3%). During the study, we failed to report an increased risk of NMSC in HCTZ-treated vs. untreated
patients. Gender stratification revealed an OR for NMSC of 1.36 for men and 0.56 for women.
We did not find a dose-response relationship between HCTZ use and NMSC.
Conclusion: In the present study, we failed to report an association between the use of HCTZ and
the development of NMSC.
