The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7287 p207
21 February 2004

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Journal of the National Cancer Institute abstract (more)

Aspirin may protect against lymphoma

The risk of developing Hodgkin's lymphoma is lower for regular users of aspirin, data from a new study suggest (Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2004;96:305).

The case-control study involved 565 patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and 679 controls. Regular aspirin use (two or more 325mg tablets per week or equivalent) resulted in a 40 per cent lower risk for developing the disease (odds ratio 0.60, 95 per cent confidence interval 0.42 to 0.85). Risk was not associated with use of non-aspirin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs but was increased for regular users of paracetamol (odds ratio 1.72, 1.29 to 2.31).

Barrett’s oesophagus Another study published in the same journal (ibid, p316) concludes that aspirin use in the management of Barrett’s oesophagus is a cost-effective strategy to prevent oesophageal adenocarcinoma.