Photosensitizing antihypertensive drug use and risk of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

These findings provide moderate support for an increased cSCC risk among individuals treated with photosensitizing ADs.

European interdisciplinary guideline on invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the skin: Part 1. epidemiology, diagnostics and prevention

“…Photosensitising thiazide antihypertensives have been recently associated with the risk of cSCC development [67,68], however causality has not been substantiated. A meta-analysis by Gandini et al reported no association between thiazide diuretics and cSCC [69].…”

Widely used antihypertensive drugs linked to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

“…The study by Su et al . indirectly supports these data, as findings for ever‐use of photosensitizing antihypertensive drugs were driven by combination diuretics, which include hydrochlorothiazide …”

“…In this issue of the BJD , Su et al . provide evidence linking photosensitizing antihypertensive drugs to increased risk of cSCC . The study included a cohort of 28 357 non‐Hispanic white adults with hypertension who participated in a research programme at Kaiser Permanente Northern California and were followed up for biopsy‐verified in situ /invasive cSCC .…”

“…provide evidence linking photosensitizing antihypertensive drugs to increased risk of cSCC . The study included a cohort of 28 357 non‐Hispanic white adults with hypertension who participated in a research programme at Kaiser Permanente Northern California and were followed up for biopsy‐verified in situ /invasive cSCC . Compared with nonusers of antihypertensive drugs, ever users of photosensitizing antihypertensive drugs had a 1·17 (95% confidence interval 1·07–1·28) increased relative risk of cSCC.…”

“…Furthermore, the highest cumulative dose examined was relatively low. Most importantly, results were not presented for individual drugs, which is also the case for most previous studies on this topic . Such information is crucial to avoid discarding, for example, an entire class of diuretics based on risks linked to single drugs.…”