Risk of non-melanoma skin cancer for rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving TNF antagonist: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ConclusionsThese results suggest that RA patients treated with anti-TNF are at an increased risk of NMSC, especially SCC. However, this association in RA urgently needs the more clinical studies and basic researches to further validate.Key Points• Rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors are associated with a higher risk of non-melanoma skin cancer compared to those patients treated without tumor necrosis factor inhibitors. Hence, tumor necrosis factor inhibitors may be avoided in rheumatoid arthritis pa tients who are at high risk of non-melanoma skin cancer.• Of note, rheumatoid arthritis patients who were treated for tumor necrosis factor inhibitors compared with patients who were not treated for tumor necrosis factor inhibitors were at significantly increased risk of squamous cell skin cancer, but were not at increased risk of basal cell skin cance r. Therefore, use of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis patients should be paid attention to the occurrence of squamous cell skin cancer.
Source: Clinical Rheumatology - Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research