Tricyclic antidepressants and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
BACKGROUND
An increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) has been reported among long-term users of tricyclic antidepressants.


METHODS
The incidence of NHL among 43,932 users of any antidepressant medication (2 or more prescriptions) in the county of North Jutland, Denmark, during 1989-2003 was compared with NHL incidence in all those not using antidepressants (0 or 1 prescription). We used Poisson regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, period, use of immunosuppressive drugs, corticosteroids, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.


RESULTS
Use of tricyclic antidepressants was associated with an overall increased incidence of NHL (adjusted incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.53; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.06-2.21) compared with nonuse. The IRR in users with > or =10 prescriptions and 5 or more years of follow-up was 2.50 (CI = 1.43-4.34). Users of other types of antidepressants were not at increased risk of NHL.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate an increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma specifically among long-term users of tricyclic antidepressant medications.
Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark. sanne@cancer.dk
Susanne Oksbjerg
SO
Dalton
Aslak Harbo
AH
Poulsen
Mette
M
Nørgaard
Joseph K
JK
McLaughlin
Christoffer
C
Johansen
Søren
S
Friis
D000328:Adult; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D012042:Registries; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic