Background
Solid organ transplant recipients are at an increased risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma of the skin after transplant. In predominantly Caucasian cohorts, Fitzpatrick skin type (FST) has been reported to be a risk factor for developing post-transplant skin cancers.
Objective
Our goal was to determine if Fitzpatrick skin type is a statistically significant risk factor for the development of squamous cell carcinomas after solid organ transplant in a diverse US population of transplant recipients.
Methods
A cohort of transplant recipients completed a questionnaire of demographic factors, transplant type, Fitzpatrick skin type and skin cancer history. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to determine the risk factors for development of squamous cell carcinoma after transplant.
Results
As expected, male subjects had an increased risk for SCC compared to females (p=0.02), and subjects age 50 and over at the time of transplantation were more likely to develop SCC compared to those under 50 (p<0.001). The risk of SCC increased with each incremental decrease in Fitzpatrick skin type, from FST VI to FST I (linear test for trend p<0.001).
Limitations
Our questionnaire did not ask specifically about immunosuppressive medications; instead, organ transplant category was used as a proxy for level of immunosuppression.
Conclusions
Fitzpatrick skin type, a patient-reported variable, is an independent risk factor for the development of SCC in organ transplant recipients, and should be elicited from patients who have gone or will undergo organ transplantation.
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