Rauwolfia derivatives and breast cancer. A case/control study in Olmsted County, Minnesota.

In response to three reports of an association between rauwolfia derivatives and breast cancer, a case/control study was undertaken in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Comparison of a cohort of women with breast cancer to an age-match cohort of women with cholelithiasis failed to show any meaningful differences in the two groups except with respect to a history of hypertension. The rates of use of rauwolfia derivatives by hypertensive cases and controls were identical--which, along with other considerations, leads to the conclusion that an association between the use of rauwolfia derivatives and breast cancer is unlikely.