[Markus]

Is metronidazole carcinogenic?

Abstract

Metronidazole (MTZ, 1-[2-hydroxyethyl]-2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole), an antiparasitic and antibacterial compound, is one of the world’s most used drugs. MTZ is potentially carcinogenic to humans due to the following facts: it is a proven mutagen in bacterial systems, it is genotoxic to human cells and also, it is carcinogenic to animals. However, due to inadequate epidemiological evidence, it is not considered as a risk factor for cancer in humans. As it will be discussed here, the existing population studies are deficient since they have not included sufficient sample size, the follow-up time has not been long enough, and the individual sensitivity to the drug might have been acting as a confounding factor. Due to the increasing use of this drug, more and improved studies are needed to elucidate its mechanism of genotoxicity and its carcinogenic potential.

Potentiell kanzerogen, weil:
- bewiesen mutagen in Bakterien
- genotoxisch für menschliche Zellen
- karzinogen für Tiere
- bisher nicht als karzinogen im Menschen angesehen, aber: existierende Populationsstudien am Menschen defizient, da zu wenige Patienten und Nachbeobachtungszeit zu kurz; individuelle Empfindlichkeit nicht berücksichtigt
- weitere und verbesserte Studien notwendig

Meine Meinung nach Lektüre dieser und anderer Studien: Einsatz von Metronidazol als Standardtherapie bei Borreliose derzeit nicht verantwortbar, insbesondere nicht im Frühstadium; letztes Mittel, das versucht werden sollte.