1
DRUG REACTIONS Laxative abusers mk cancer Available data indicate that anthranoid laxatives, including senna, aloe, cascara, frangula and rheum, are carcinogenic in humans, report German researchers. A prospective analysis of 1095 patients undergoing endoscopy revealed that the relative risk of colorectal cancer was 3.04 in patients with a history of anthranoid-containing laxative misuse. Physicians who performed endoscopy were instructed to test for Pseudomelanosis coli, a reliable indicator of chronic anthranoid laxative abuse, during the procedure. The incidences of pseudomelanosis coli were 6.9% in patients with no endoscopic abnormality, 2.3% in patients with inflammatory diseases, 9.1 % in patients with diverticulosis, 9.8% in patients with adenoma, and 18.6% in those with carcinoma. Furthermore, 31/33 patients with adenomas or carcinomas admitted to the misuse of anthranoid laxatives over a period of 10-30 years. Despite the implications of this study, the researchers comment that chronic constipation together with a low fibre and high fat intake may predispose to the development of colorectal cancer. And the impact of these factors needs to be determined in future case-control studies. Siegers C-P, von Hertzberg-Louin E. Oue M. Schneider B. Anthranoid laxative abuse - a risk for colorectal cancer? Gut 34: 1099-1101. Aug 1993 800212019 ISSN 0156-2703l9310814-<Xl211$1.rxfJ Adlalntamatlonal Ltd 21 INPHARMA e 14 Aug 1993

Laxative abusers risk cancer

  • Upload
    trannhu

  • View
    213

  • Download
    0

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

DRUG REACTIONS Laxative abusers mk cancer

Available data indicate that anthranoid laxatives, including senna, aloe, cascara, frangula and rheum, are carcinogenic in humans, report German researchers. A prospective analysis of 1095 patients undergoing endoscopy revealed that the relative risk of colorectal cancer was 3.04 in patients with a history of anthranoid-containing laxative misuse.

Physicians who performed endoscopy were instructed to test for Pseudomelanosis coli, a reliable indicator of chronic anthranoid laxative abuse, during the procedure.

The incidences of pseudomelanosis coli were 6.9% in patients with no endoscopic abnormality, 2.3% in patients with inflammatory diseases, 9.1 % in patients with diverticulosis, 9.8% in patients with adenoma, and 18.6% in those with carcinoma. Furthermore, 31/33 patients with adenomas or carcinomas admitted to the misuse of anthranoid laxatives over a period of 10-30 years.

Despite the implications of this study, the researchers comment that chronic constipation together with a low fibre and high fat intake may predispose to the development of colorectal cancer. And the impact of these factors needs to be determined in future case-control studies. Siegers C-P, von Hertzberg-Louin E. Oue M. Schneider B. Anthranoid laxative abuse - a risk for colorectal cancer? Gut 34: 1099-1101. Aug 1993

800212019

ISSN 0156-2703l9310814-<Xl211$1.rxfJ Adlalntamatlonal Ltd

21

INPHARMAe 14 Aug 1993