Heavy antibiotic use linked to Hodgkin’s lymphoma

The heavy use of antibiotics has been linked to the development of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), according to research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

A study by Northern California Cancer Center (NCCC) found that patients who had used antibiotics at least ten times during their younger years were more likely to develop the disorder.

However, the researchers said that it may not be indicative of antibiotics causing the illness. Instead, such individuals may be more susceptible to infections than others. It also found that heavy users of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are more likely to develop the disease.

Whilst the researchers speculated that “a direct pathogenetic effect of antibiotics on lymphoma development” could exist, they said that evidence showed that this was not likely the case.

“Biologic data more strongly support the hypothesis that antibiotic use is an indicator of infection and consequent inflammation, which may increase the risk of NHL, and that high cumulative NSAID use is a marker of chronic inflammation,” they continued.

The research compared 3,055 patients with 3,187 healthy individuals.

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