A known diuretic can cause skin cancer
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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The most common diuretic in the world - hydrochlorothiazide (aka hypothiazide) - increases the chances of getting skin cancer seven times. This is what scientists say after a series of experiments.
Dr. Anton Pottegaard, representing the University of Southern Denmark (Odense), explained that hydrochlorothiazide can lead to non-melanoma skin cancer, which includes basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
Hydrochlorothiazide belongs to the category of diuretics, the most popular among the population. This drug relieves the accumulation of fluid in the tissues and prevents the increase in blood pressure. Previously, Dr. Pottegard has already proven the involvement of hydrochlorothiazide in the development of the cancerous process of the lips. At the same time, scientists found that this drug increases the sensitivity of the skin to the influence of ultraviolet.
This time, Dr. Pottegard decided to study this medicine in more depth.
After analyzing the national database of information, scientists found the relationship between taking a diuretic and developing non-melanoma skin cancer. The study involved 80,000 cancer patients and one and a half million healthy subjects under control. In addition to hydrochlorothiazide, other diuretics were also considered.
As a result, experts calculated that those people who were treated with hydrochlorothiazide, fell ill with dermal cancer 7 times more often than other patients. A diuretic affects equally the development of both basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
Other diuretics did not exert such influence.
"We already knew that the drug we are researching removes skin protection before ultraviolet light. At this stage, we confidently say that prolonged intake of hydrochlorothiazide can cause cancer, "the authors summarize.
"We controlled and led a huge number of patients with different variants of cancerous tumors: all of these patients had only one risk factor - taking hydrochlorothiazide," explains the head of the dermatology department at the University of Florida Arman Kognette. As the American doctor-dermatologist considers, a combination of high ultraviolet activity and reception of a diuretic can become the deadly complex factor.
"The work of scientists will make colossal adjustments in the prevention of cancerous tumors at the world level," Professor Kognett assures.
Since hydrochlorothiazide is widely used in most of the world's developed countries, the side effects of treatment can affect a huge number of people. It is not yet a question of withdrawal of a drug from the market, however it is important to know about the possible consequences and to prevent their development. Doctors warn: if a person has been taking hydrochlorothiazide for a long time, then it should not be canceled by yourself - this should be done by the doctor who prescribed the treatment. Only he can make the right replacement of this diuretic with another drug.
Scientists do not stop there and plan to continue their research. They report all the details of their work in the Journal of the American Association of Dermatology.
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