Risk for cancer reduced for patients with multiple sclerosis

(HealthDay)—The risk for cancer is reduced among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published online Aug. 13 in Autoimmunity Reviews.

Mahsa Ghajarzadeh, M.D., M.P.H., from the Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iran, and colleagues examined the pooled risk for cancer in patients with MS. Data were included from five articles that met the inclusion criteria.

The researchers found that in the included articles, the risk ratio was estimated between 0.7 and 1.67, with the pooled risk ratio estimated at 0.83. In two studies, the pooled prevalence of breast cancer was 2 percent; in two studies, the pooled prevalence of digestive cancer was 2 percent; and in two studies, the pooled prevalence of skin cancer was 1 percent.

"To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating the risk of cancer in patients with MS," the authors write. "The result of this systematic review showed that the risk of cancer in patients with MS is less than the general population."