Incidence of melanoma and other malignancies among rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with methotrexate

Abstract

Objective. To determine cancer risk in a cohort of 459 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with methotrexate in community practice. Methods. All RA patients who started methotrexate prior to June 1986 and were attending 1 of 6 rheumatologists were studied. Demographic data were matched to the State Cancer Registry to identify all malignancies (except nonmelanoma skin cancer) for 1983-1998, and to the National Death Index to identify all deaths to the end of 1999. Followup started on the date when methotrexate was started and ended either on the last confirmed date on which the patient was seen hy the rheumatologist or at death. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated usin..