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Would you switch azathioprine to a different immunosuppressant if a controlled patient with SLE develops melanoma and/or non-melanoma skin cancer?

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Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Rheumatology · MUSC Health

This is a difficult question with no definitive research-proven answer. Clearly, most of our drugs do enhance the chance of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer. If one does a literature search the only one of our drugs that has not been reported to increase the chance for relapse of melanoma is Tac...

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Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Rheumatology · Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS)

I would add to Dr. @Dr. First Last's excellent response with considering biologics as per the latest EULAR guidelines for SLE management. Belimumab has not had any cancer flags after being used now for well over a decade; anifrolumab has thus far had no red flags; rituximab is an option, but I try t...

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