those who take acetaminophen - best known as Tylenol - regularly for some time could bring themselves to an increased risk of developing certain cancers of the blood, researchers from the University of Washington report.
The results of previous studies looking at the association between over-the-counter analgesics or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and cancers of the blood were mixed, but this study suggests a risk associated with acetaminophen, scientists noted.
"We found that the heavy use of acetaminophen, one of the most frequently used drugs in the world, was associated with a malignant hematological incidents increased nearly double risk," said lead researcher Dr. Roland Walter, an assistant professor of medicine in the division of Hematology.
The report was published in the online edition may 9 of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
While research has revealed a possible association between acetaminophen use cancers and blood, he has failed to prove a cause and effect. And several experts called for follow-up studies.
The study, Walter team collected data on men and women aged 50 to 76, 64,839 who participated in the vitamins and to study the habits of life (VITAL). Among these people, the researchers identified 577 cases of cancer of the blood.
The researchers found that those who used acetaminophen at least four days a week for four years had almost a double risk increased for cancers of the blood. These cancers included: myeloid neoplasms, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and plasma cell disorders.
However, acetaminophen use was not associated with an increased risk to the chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small Lymphocytic Lymphoma, Walter Group noted.
This risk was not seen with the mass use of other pain relievers such as aspirin, other NSAIDs or ibuprofen, researchers said. However, it there was also no association between other analgesics and risk reduction, which implies that these drugs are likely to be useful for the prevention of cancers of the blood, said Walter.
"Acetaminophen used on most of the day for many years seems to be associated with this new adverse effect," said Walter. "However, the study does not find a causal link," he added.
According to researchers, animal studies have linked acetaminophen to the toxic effects on the bone marrow, what could be the reason for which there is a higher risk for cancers of the blood with a long-term drug use.
Bonnie Jacobs, a spokesman for McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a division of McNeil-PPC, Inc., maker of Tylenol, stressed that "Tylenol has a clinical record in support of the safety and efficacy of more than 50 years".
She added, "We appreciate the evaluation of the authors that more studies are needed before, it is possible to draw conclusions about the use of acetaminophen, and we welcome additional research in this area."
Walter noted that the risk of cancers of the blood is relatively low. a total combined estimated of 137,260 the United States people were diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma in 2010. "New cases of leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma should represent 9 per cent of new cases of cancer diagnosed, so even a doubling of that risk is still relatively low,", he said.
Deborah banker, Senior Vice President, communications research at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, stated that "it is unknown why chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small Lymphocytic Lymphoma should be associations of different risk with use of acetaminophen.".
Eric Jacobs, strategic Director of Pharmacoepidemiology at the American Cancer Society, said that "there is no evidence of this study that the less frequent use or more short term may raise risk of these cancers." Replication of this finding in additional studies of quality is necessary. ?
No comments:
Post a Comment