Patients with psoriasis have an increased risk for colorectal cancer (CRC), according to a review published in the December issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology .

Yun Fu, M.D., from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taoyuan, Taiwan, and colleagues conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies that examined the association of psoriasis with CRC. Data were included from nine cohort studies with 10,544,609 individuals.

The researchers found that the risk for CRC was significantly increased in patients with psoriasis (hazard ratio, 1.16; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.08 to 1.24). In a subgroup analysis according to sex, the risk for CRC was significantly increased for women (hazard ratio, 1.41; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.16 to 1.72), but not men (hazard ratio, 1.18; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.92 to 1.50), with psoriasis.

"The association between psoriasis and CRC may reflect the underlying inflammatory processes and impaired immune system. Patients with psoriasis should be informed about the increased risk of CRC," the authors write. "Because early diagnosis improves survival in CRC, gastroenterology consultation and detailed colonoscopic examination are indicated for patients with psoriasis presenting with bowel symptoms."

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