Some IBD Drugs May Be Linked to Lymphoma

A recent study in the journal The Lancet has shown that people with IBD who take a class of drugs called thiopurines are at an increased risk for lymphoproliferative disorders, including Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoproliferative disorder. Two IBD drugs that are thiopurines are Imuran (azathioprine) and Purinethol (6-mercaptopurine).

The risk of lymphoproliferative disorders was calculated to be 5 times greater in those with IBD who took a thiopurine when compared to people with IBD who were not taking these drugs. The risk was found to be related to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Of those patients in the study who developed the lymphoproliferative disorders, most of them were associated with the EBV. For younger patients receiving a thiopurine drug for 10 years, the risk of developing a lymphoproliferative disorder is still considered to be very low. However, for older patients and for use of thiopurines for longer than 10 years, the authors stress that more research is needed to understand the risks.

_{Source:
Beaugerie L, Brousse N, Bouvier AM, et al "Lymphoproliferative disorders in patients receiving thiopurines for inflammatory bowel disease: a prospective observational cohort study." Lancet 2009; DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61302-7. 26 Oct 2009.}