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Clinical response rate and flares of hidradenitis suppurativa in the treatment with adalimumab
Author(s) -
Caposiena Caro R. D.,
Cannizzaro M. V.,
Tartaglia C.,
Bianchi L.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
clinical and experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1365-2230
pISSN - 0307-6938
DOI - 10.1111/ced.14127
Subject(s) - hidradenitis suppurativa , adalimumab , medicine , dermatology life quality index , dermatology , severity of illness , lesion , target lesion , visual analogue scale , retrospective cohort study , psoriasis , surgery , disease , percutaneous coronary intervention , myocardial infarction
Summary Background Hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory, skin disease. adalimumab is the sole approved drug for the treatment of HS, but it only partially controls the symptoms. Aim To evaluate the incidence of flares during 108 weeks of therapy and the clinical response to adalimumab. Methods In total, 20 patients with moderate–severe HS treated with adalimumab were included to evaluate the number of flares, mean time interval between flares, lesion count number of patients who reached the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response (HiSCR) of ≥ 50% reduction in inflammatory lesion count, and the International Hidradenitis Suppurativa Severity Score System (IHS4), pain visual analogue scale (VAS) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Results In total, 90% of patients reported at least 1 flare, and in total 48 flares were counted for the whole group; mean time between flares was 26.9 ± 16.4 weeks. Duration between flares was 30.5 ± 16.3 and 12.5 ± 5.7, respectively, in responders and nonresponders. A progressive decline in flares was observed with treatment, while a gradual increase in the number of patients achieving HiSCR was attained during the observational period. Lesion count, IHS4, pain VAS and DLQI decreased throughout the study. In detail, adalimumab showed a higher efficacy on nodules and abscesses than on draining tunnels. The study was limited by its retrospective nature and small number of patients. Conclusion Adalimumab is an effective and safe treatment for patients with HS despite the high number of flares.