Project description:Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic debilitating disorder that can affect any areas bearing apocrine glands. Perineal HS is associated with high morbidity compared with other anatomic regions. Early-stage disease may mimic various other forms of cutaneous disorders, but as HS progresses pathognomonic skin changes occur. Clinical stage can guide the therapeutic approach, but the lowest recurrence rate is obtained by removing all involved skin and subcutaneous fat. Pruritus ani is a complex disease with a multitude of etiologies. Its management can be frustrating and disappointing for the patient and doctor alike. The key is to start with simple treatment options focusing on perianal hygiene and avoidance of the most common offending foods and beverages. If these measures fail, topical medications should be attempted before graduating to perianal injections of methylene blue as a last resort.
Project description:(1) Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease. It is characterized by the transformation of normal skin into skin with abscesses, nodules, tunnels, and scars. The most commonly affected areas are the armpits, groins, buttocks, and subscapular area. Patients with HS require constant care under the supervision of the outpatient clinic. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, consultations have been introduced in the form of telemedicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the availability of HS treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic and to assess patient satisfaction, problems with access to medical care, and the impact of the pandemic on the course of the disease. (2) Methods: An internet survey with an anonymous questionnaire was used to assess the effectiveness of telemedicine consultations. The survey consisted of 25 closed questions, and responses were kept fully anonymous. (3) Results: Most respondents reported minor problems with accessing specialized HS medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 25, 35.71%). However, 35.71% (n = 25) of them reported major problems with appointments for specialized ambulatory treatment during the last few months of the pandemic, mainly due to delayed appointments. Almost half of the respondents had been diagnosed with COVID-19 (n = 34, 48.57%), and 58.57% (n = 41) of respondents did not see a correlation between COVID-19 infection and HS progression. (4) Conclusions: Our study showed that the pandemic significantly limited access to medical advice, and patients with hidradenitis suppurativa prefer standard consultations.
Project description:Importance:Although hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is associated with several cardiovascular risk mediators, information on the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and cerebrovascular accident (CVA) in this population is sparse. Objective:To compare risk of MI, CVA, and composite disease (MI or CVA) in patients with HS, stratified by use of biologic agents, with controls without HS. Design, Setting, and Participants:A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted between January 1, 1999, and April 1, 2019, using a demographically heterogeneous population-based sample of over 56 million unique patients. Individuals with HS (n?=?49?862) and without HS (n?=?1?421?223) were identified using electronic health records data. Main Outcomes and Measures:The primary outcome was incidence of composite MI or CVA. Results:Of the 49?862 patients with HS, 37?981 were women (76.2%), 29?711 were white (59.6%), and mean (SD) age was 38.3 (13.3) years. Crude incidence rate of composite disease was 6.6 (95% CI, 6.3-7.0) per 1000 person-years in patients with HS compared with 6.8 (95% CI, 6.7-6.8) per 1000 person-years in controls. In patients with HS, crude incidence rates were 2.9 (95% CI, 2.6-3.1) per 1000 person-years for MI alone and 4.1 (95% CI, 3.9-4.4) per 1000 person-years for CVA alone compared with 3.2 (95% CI, 3.18-3.25) per 1000 person-years for MI alone in control patients and 4.1 (95% CI, 4.0-4.1) per 1000 person-years for CVA alone in control patients. In adjusted analysis, patients with HS had a 23% increased risk of composite disease (hazard ratio [HR], 1.23; 95% CI, 1.17-1.30; P?<?.001) and a similar increase in the risk of MI alone (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.12-1.32; P?<?.001) and CVA alone (HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.14-1.31; P?<?.001) compared with control patients. The relative difference in composite MI or CVA risk between patients with HS and controls was highest among younger patients HR in subgroup aged 18-29 years: 1.67; 95% CI, 1.37-2.03). Conclusions and Relevance:Patients with HS appear to have an increased risk of MI and CVA. Early management of modifiable cardiovascular risk mediators may be warranted in patients with HS.
Project description:Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) leads to disfigurement and painful eruptions in terminal hair follicles of the intertriginous skin, mainly of axillary, genitofemoral, and perianal sites. It is associated with an excessive impairment of quality of life, psychiatric disorders, and sexual distress. Body image impairment has been linked to depression and anxiety and has been described for some dermatologic disorders but has not yet been investigated in patients with HS.To investigate whether body image is diminished in patients with HS and whether disease severity, age at onset, disease duration, obesity, depression, and anxiety are linked to body image impairment.This 12-month (August 1, 2009, to August 31, 2010) case-control study with a prospective, observational, cross-sectional design recruited 47 consecutive patients with HS entering a tertiary care center and 45 healthy control individuals matched for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). One patient and 4 controls failed to complete the questionnaire and were excluded from the evaluation. Data analysis was performed from December 1, 2013, to February 15, 2014.The Frankfurt Body Concept Scale (FKKS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were given to patients and controls. Correlations among FKKS, HADS, and disease features were calculated.Of the 46 patients and 41 controls included in the evaluation (mean [SD] age, 35.6 [1.6] years; 40 [46%] male and 47 [54%] female), HS significantly reduced body image (mean FKKS score, 234.2 [5.4] in patients and 276.9 [5.7] in controls; P < .001), even when controlled for BMI. A correlation was found for the extent of body image disruption and BMI (r = -0.589; P < .001), HADS-depression score (r = -0.619; P < .001), and HADS-anxiety score (r = -0.340; P = .03). No association was found for the body image score and the severity of HS, age at onset of disease, and duration of disease. The body contact subscale score was the only subscale score that was not different between patients with HS and controls.Patients with HS have major body image impairment, which might lead to depression and anxiety, disorders that have been largely acknowledged in HS. This study identified another element of the psychosocial burden of patients with HS and reveals that body image could potentially be used as an outcome measure in future studies of HS.
Project description:Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic auto-inflammatory skin disease with a complex and multifactorial pathogenesis involving both the innate and adaptive immune system. Despite limited evidence for local complement activation, conflicting results have been published on the role of systemic complement activation in HS. It was hypothesized that complement was consumed in highly inflamed HS skin, trapping complement from the circulation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate this local complement deposition in HS skin lesions using routine and commonly used complement antibodies.Direct immunofluorescence for C1q, C3c, C4d, C5b-9, and properdin was performed on frozen tissue sections of 19 HS patients and 6 controls. C5a receptor 1 (C5aR1) was visualized using immunohistochemistry. Overall, we found no significant local complement deposition in HS patients versus controls regarding C1q, C3c, C4d, C5b-9, or properdin on either vessels or immune cells. C5aR1 expression was exclusively found on immune cells, predominantly neutrophilic granulocytes, but not significantly different relatively to the total infiltrate in HS lesions compared with controls. In conclusion, despite not being able to confirm local complement depositions of C1q, C3c, C4d, or properdin using highly sensitive and widely accepted techniques, the increased presence of C5aR1 positive immune cells in HS suggests the importance of complement in the pathogenesis of HS and supports emerging therapies targeting this pathway.
Project description:Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a devastating disease involving abscesses, sinus tracts, and inflammation classically affecting the axilla, groin, and/or anogenital region. Although the disease pathogenesis is not fully understood, recent advances suggest that HS pathology runs much deeper than the cutaneous manifestations. It is now believed that HS is a systemic inflammatory disease that gives rise to the characteristic cutaneous manifestations. This disease is problematic for both patients and physicians to manage because of a variety of diagnostic and management difficulties. This article seeks to provide updates on the current understanding of HS to increase awareness and improve management.
Project description:Comorbidities of hidradenitis suppurativa (acne inversa) were reviewed by extracting original and review publications included in MEDLINE, EMBASE and COCHRANE libraries using the terms "hidradenitis," "Verneuil" and "acne inversa." Follicular occlusion disorders, inflammatory bowel diseases, especially Crohn disease, spondylarthropathy, other hyperergic diseases, genetic keratin disorders associated with follicular occlusion and squamous cell carcinoma were the most common hidradenitis suppurativa comorbid diseases. A first classification of these major comorbidities and their possible genetic background reveals a list of chromosome loci and genes, which could be hidradenitis suppurativa candidates. Most of these diseases belong to the group of autoinflammatory disorders, where th17 cell cytokines seem to play a central role.
Project description:BackgroundFavorable treatment outcomes with TNF blockade led us to explore cytokine responses in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS).MethodsBlood monocytes of 120 patients and 24 healthy volunteers were subtyped by flow cytometry. Isolated blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were stimulated for cytokine production; this was repeated in 13 severe patients during treatment with etanercept. Cytokines in pus were measured.ResultsCD14brightCD16dim inflammatory monocytes and patrolling monocytes were increased in Hurley III patients. Cytokine production by stimulated PBMCs was low compared to controls but the cytokine gene copies did not differ, indicating post-translational inhibition. The low production of IL-17 was restored, when cells were incubated with adalimumab. In pus, high concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines were detected. Based on the patterns, six different cytokine profiles were discerned, which are potentially relevant for the choice of treatment. Clinical improvement with etanercept was predicted by increased production of IL-1? and IL-17 by PBMCs at week 8.ConclusionsFindings indicate compartmentalized cytokine expression in HS; high in pus but suppressed in PBMCs. This is modulated through blockade of TNF.
Project description:Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a skin disease characterized by recurrent nodules or abscesses and chronic suppurating lesions. In the absence of clear pathophysiology, HS is considered to be an inflammatory disease and has no satisfactory medical treatment. Recently, prolonged antimicrobial treatments were shown to improve or resolve HS lesions. We prospectively studied the microbiology of 102 HS lesions sampled from 82 patients using prolonged bacterial cultures and bacterial metagenomics on 6 samples. Staphylococcus lugdunensis was cultured as a unique or predominant isolate from 58% of HS nodules and abscesses, and a polymicrobial anaerobic microflora comprising strict anaerobes, milleri group streptococci, and actinomycetes was found in 24% of abscesses or nodules and in 87% of chronic suppurating lesions. These data show that bacteria known to cause soft tissue and skin infections are associated with HS lesions. Whether these pathogens are the cause of the lesions or are secondary infectious agents, these findings support targeted antimicrobial treatment of HS.