Medicinal arsenic and internal malignancies

Area of Science:

• Toxicology
• Oncology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Fowler's solution, containing potassium arsenite, was historically used for medical treatments.
• Arsenic exposure is a known risk factor for various cancers.
• Long-term effects of Fowler's solution on patient mortality require detailed analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a mortality analysis of patients treated with Fowler's solution.
• To investigate the association between Fowler's solution use and cancer incidence and mortality.
• To identify potential risk factors and susceptible subgroups within the patient cohort.

Main Methods:

• Mortality analysis of a patient cohort treated between 1945 and 1969.
• Cancer site, dose-response, and time-response analyses were performed.
• Clinical examination of a patient subset for dermatological signs of arsenicism (keratoses, hyperpigmentation, skin cancer).

Main Results:

• An excess of fatal and non-fatal skin cancers was observed.
• No overall excess mortality from cancer was found in the cohort.
• Half of the examined subgroup showed signs of arsenicism; all cancer deaths occurred in this subgroup.

Conclusions:

• Fowler's solution use is linked to increased skin cancer risk.
• No significant excess of internal malignancy was detected.
• Dermatological signs of arsenicism may indicate a subgroup susceptible to arsenic-related health effects.