Skin Cancer in Kidney Transplant Recipients: Incidence and Association with Clinical and Demographic Factors

Authors

  • João Borges-Costa Clínica Universitária Dermatológica de Lisboa. Hospital de Santa Maria. Lisboa. Portugal.
  • João Pedro Vasconcelos Clínica Universitária Dermatológica de Lisboa. Hospital de Santa Maria. Lisboa. Portugal.
  • Ana Rita Travassos Clínica Universitária Dermatológica de Lisboa. Hospital de Santa Maria. Lisboa. Portugal.
  • José Guerra Unidade de Transplantação, Serviço de Nefrologia. Hospital de Santa Maria. Lisboa. Portugal
  • Alice Santana Unidade de Transplantação, Serviço de Nefrologia. Hospital de Santa Maria. Lisboa. Portugal
  • André Weigert Serviço de Nefrologia. Hospital de Santa Cruz. Carnaxide. Portugal
  • Manuel Sacramento Marques Clínica Universitária Dermatológica de Lisboa. Hospital de Santa Maria. Lisboa. Portugal.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.4104

Abstract

Introduction and Objectives: Organ transplanted recipients have a higher risk of non melanoma skin cancer. Our objectives were to determine incidence of skin cancer and search for associations with clinical or demographic factors in a series of kidney transplant recipients. Materials and Methods: A prospective study with face-to-face interview of 127 kidney transplant recipients who were observed for the first time during the second half of 2010 and in 2011. All diagnosed skin cancers were confirmed by histopathology. A 5% significance level was used and statistical analysis performed with chi-square, Fisher´s exact test or Mann Whitney test. Results: The mean age was 53 (s = 12.98) and 67% were males. The mean number of years since the transplant was 8 (s = 4.61) and skin cancer was observed in 16% (20 / 127), with equal number of basaliomas and squamous cell carcinoma. In sun exposed areas, actinic keratoses and viral warts were present in 24% and 8%, respectively. Skin cancer was significantly associated with older age (p = 0.016), longer duration of immunosuppression (p = 0.003) as well as with previous outdoor work (p = 0.049) or actinic keratoses in sun exposed areas (p < 0.001). Present intake of azathioprine (n = 8) was the only medication associated with skin cancer (p = 0.035 in Fisher´s exact test). Conclusions: Skin cancer incidence is high in our series and education about photoprotection should be given to these patients, as well as regular dermatologic surveillance. This regular follow up improves compliance with photoprotection measures and helps to decrease the incidence of non melanoma skin cancer.

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How to Cite

1.
Borges-Costa J, Vasconcelos JP, Travassos AR, Guerra J, Santana A, Weigert A, Sacramento Marques M. Skin Cancer in Kidney Transplant Recipients: Incidence and Association with Clinical and Demographic Factors. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2013 May 31 [cited 2024 Nov. 22];26(2):123-6. Available from: https://actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/4104