title: Merkel cell carcinoma and HIV infection.
abstract: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare skin cancer that occurs more frequently after organ transplantation or B-cell malignancy, conditions of suppressed or disordered immunity. To assess further whether immune suppression increases MCC risk, we studied its occurrence in a cohort of 309365 individuals with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) by using linked AIDS and cancer registries. We identified six cases of MCC, corresponding to a relative risk of 13.4 (95% CI 4.9-29.1) compared with the general population. These results suggest that immune suppression induced by the human immunodeficiency virus increases MCC risk.
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Engels
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frisch
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Goedert
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Biggar
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D018426:SEER Program; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology