Topical and Intralesional Therapies for Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Systematic Literature Review. / [Artículo traducido] Tratamientos tópicos e intralesionales en hidradenitis supurativa. Una revisión sistemática de la literatura.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Topical and intralesional (IL) treatments may be considered the first-line therapy in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS); however, the evidence supporting their use is limited. The aim of our review is to evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of topical and IL treatments in patients with HS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We designed a systematic review of the current medical literature available following the PICO(T) method. And including all types of studies (Study type [T]) of individuals with HS of any sex, age, and ethnicity (Population [P]) who received any topical or IL treatment for HS (Intervention [I]) compared to placebo, other treatments, or no treatment at all (Comparator [C]), and reported efficacy and/or safety outcomes (Outcomes [O]). Two outcomes were defined: quality of life and the no. of patients with, at least, one adverse event. The search was conducted in the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and Embase databases; study selection was performed based on pre-defined criteria. The risk of bias was determined in each study. RESULTS: We obtained a total of 11,363 references, 31 of which met the inclusion criteria. These studies included 1143 patients with HS, 62% of whom were women. A total of 10, 8, 6, 2, and 5 studies, respectively, evaluated the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT), glucocorticoids, resorcinol, topical antibiotics, and other interventions. Most articles were case series (n=25), with only five randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and one cohort study. RCTs showed improvement in disease activity with topical clindamycin and botulinum toxin (BTX) vs placebo, and PDT with methylene blue (MB) niosomal vs free MB; however, intralesional triamcinolone acetonide was not superior to placebo. The risk of bias was low in three RCTs and high in two RCTs. CONCLUSION: The quality of evidence supporting the use of topical, or IL treatments is low. However, it supports the use of topical clindamycin, PDT, and BTX. Well-designed RCTs with standardized outcomes and homogeneous populations of patients and lesions are needed to support decision-making in the routine clinical practice.

Topical and Intralesional Therapies for Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Systematic Literature Review.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Topical and intralesional (IL) treatments may be considered the first-line therapy in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS); however, the evidence supporting their use is limited. The aim of our review is to evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of topical and IL treatments in patients with HS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We designed a systematic review of the current medical literature available following the PICO(T) method. And including all types of studies (Study type [T]) of individuals with HS of any sex, age, and ethnicity (Population [P]) who received any topical or IL treatment for HS (Intervention [I]) compared to placebo, other treatments, or no treatment at all (Comparator [C]), and reported efficacy and/or safety outcomes (Outcomes [O]). Two outcomes were defined: quality of life and the no. of patients with, at least, one adverse event. The search was conducted in the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases; study selection was performed based on pre-defined criteria. The risk of bias was determined in each study. RESULTS: We obtained a total of 11,363 references, 31 of which met the inclusion criteria. These studies included 1143 patients with HS, 62% of whom were women. A total of 10, 8, 6, 2, and 5 studies, respectively, evaluated the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT), glucocorticoids, resorcinol, topical antibiotics, and other interventions. Most articles were case series (n=25), with only five randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and one cohort study. RCTs showed improvement in disease activity with topical clindamycin and botulinum toxin (BTX) vs placebo, and PDT with methylene blue (MB) niosomal vs free MB; however, intralesional triamcinolone acetonide was not superior to placebo. The risk of bias was low in three RCTs and high in two RCTs. CONCLUSION: The quality of evidence supporting the use of topical, or IL treatments is low. However, it supports the use of topical clindamycin, PDT, and BTX. Well-designed RCTs with standardized outcomes and homogeneous populations of patients and lesions are needed to support decision-making in the routine clinical practice.

Pilonidal sinus disease: an intergluteal localization of hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa: a cross-sectional study among 2465 patients.

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), also referred to as acne inversa, is a debilitating skin disease characterized by inflammatory nodules, chronic abscesses and tunnels (fistulae and sinuses). The association with pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) is frequently reported but not well documented. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of inflammatory skin lesions located in the intergluteal fold (IGF) of patients with HS. METHODS: This was an international multicentre retrospective cross-sectional study based on data collection from a large cohort of patients with HS with and without histopathology. Results From a total of 2465 patients with HS included in the study, 661 (27%) reported lesions in the IGF. These patients were significantly more often smokers and had more severe HS. Of the 238 patients with an available clinical diagnosis, intergluteal-HS (IG-HS) was diagnosed in 52 patients (22%) and PSD was diagnosed in 186 patients (78%). IG-HS was associated with the localization of HS in the proximity of the IGF, including the buttocks, genitals and the anus. There was a possibility of misclassification bias in this study as a clinical/image-based diagnosis or histopathology of the IGF lesions was not always available. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of PSD suggests a strong link between both entities. Therefore, it may be useful to identify common pathophysiological mechanisms and develop common therapeutic strategies. What's already known about this topic? The occurrence of pilonidal sinus disease has not been clearly reported among patients with hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa. What does this study add? This is the first study that investigated the prevalence of pilonidal sinus disease among a large cohort of patients and identified the patient characteristics. Risk factors that might help to improve the management of patients were identified.

Inter-rater agreement and reliability of outcome measurement instruments and staging systems used in hidradenitis suppurativa.

BACKGROUND: Monitoring disease activity over time is a prerequisite for clinical practice and research. Valid and reliable outcome measurement instruments (OMIs) and staging systems provide researchers and clinicians with benchmark tools to assess the primary and secondary outcomes of interventional trials and to guide treatment selection properly. OBJECTIVES: To investigate inter-rater reliability and agreement in instruments currently used in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), with dermatologists experienced in HS as the rater population of interest. METHODS: In a prospective completely balanced design, 24 patients with HS underwent a physical examination by 12 raters (288 assessments) using nine instruments. The results were analysed using generalized linear mixed models. RESULTS: For the staging systems, the study found good inter-rater reliability for Hurley staging in the axillae and gluteal region, moderate inter-rater reliability for Hurley staging in the groin and for Physician's Global Assessment, and fair inter-rater reliability for refined Hurley staging and the International HS Severity Scoring System. For all the tested OMIs, the observed intervals for limits of agreement were very wide relative to the ranges of the scales. CONCLUSIONS: The very wide intervals for limits of agreement imply that substantial changes are needed in clinical research in order to rule out measurement error. The results illustrate a difficulty, even for experienced HS experts, to agree on the type and number of lesions when evaluating disease severity. The apparent caveats call for global efforts, such as the HIdradenitis SuppuraTiva cORe outcomes set International Collaboration (HISTORIC) to reach consensus on how best to measure physical signs of HS reliably in randomized trials. What's already known about this topic? Without valid and reliable instruments to measure outcomes, researchers and clinicians lack the necessary benchmarks to assess primary and secondary end points of interventional trials properly. Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Several outcome measure instruments exist for HS, but their validation is generally incomplete or of relatively low methodological quality. What does this study add? Using a prospective completely balanced design this study examined inter-rater reliability with HS-experienced dermatologists as the rater population of interest. The study did not find very good reliability for any included instrument or lesion counts. This study illustrates the difficulty in finding agreement on the type and number of HS lesions, even among experts. The results question whether physical signs are best measured by a traditional physician lesion count instrument. What are the clinical implications of this work? For staging, Hurley staging and physician global visual analogue scale proved to be acceptable instruments in terms of inter-rater reliability. For the instruments designed to measure changes in health status, our study illustrates how difficult it is, even for experts, to measure the physical signs of HS using a simple rater counting. Consequently, other assessment methods of physicals signs, such as ultrasound evaluation, require consideration.

Changes over the last 15 years in the psychopharmacological management of persons with borderline personality disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the pharmacological management of borderline personality disorder (BPD) in Spain from 2001 through 2016, the factors associated with prescriptions, and changes in pharmacotherapy over this time period. METHODS: Retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study conducted in a sample of 457 patients with BPD consecutively admitted to a specialist BPD Program between January 2001 and November 2016. Data on sociodemographic and clinical variables, as well as pharmacological treatment upon the admission to the programme, were used to describe pharmacological prescriptions, the factors associated with these medications, and changes in prescription over the last 15 years. RESULTS: Most (88.4%) patients were on pharmacological treatment, with 53.8% of persons taking ≥3 medications. No significant changes in these percentages were observed over the study period. The use of tricyclic antidepressants and benzodiazepines decreased, while the use of atypical antipsychotics increased. Axis I comorbidity was the main factor associated with pharmacological treatment and polypharmacy. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides further evidence confirming the worldwide overuse of prescription medications for BPD and shows that there has been a shift in the prescription pattern in the last 15 years. These results suggest that real clinical practice only partially adheres to clinical treatment guidelines.

[Update of hidradenitis suppurativa in Primary Care]. / Actualización en hidrosadenitis supurativa en Atención Primaria.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a prevalent disease that is noted for its clinical variability and by its severe impact on quality of life. A meticulous scientific literature review is presented in this article in order to give an update on what is known on this condition. Primary Care physicians obviously play an important role in the early diagnosis and management of hidradenitis suppurativa. This review aims to provide a current and practical overview about this disease in order to optimise the healthcare for these patients by making the best use of available resources.

Assessment of subclinical atherosclerosis in hidradenitis suppurativa.

BACKGROUND: Patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) have an increased prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate the association between subclinical atherosclerosis, detected by carotid ultrasound, and HS. METHODS: A prospective observation and analytical study assessing subclinical atherosclerosis using carotid ultrasound in patients with HS. RESULTS: A total of 62 HS patients and 62 matched controls were studied. Diabetes mellitus (22.6% vs. 6.5%, P = 0.020), hypertension (41.9% vs. 12.9%, P < 0.001) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) (38.7% vs. 8.1%, P < 0.001) were more common in HS patients. Elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (59.7% vs. 40.3%, P = 0.031), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (61.1 vs. 29.0%, P < 0.001) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (46.8% vs. 9.7%, P < 0.001) were more frequent in patients with HS. Subclinical atherosclerosis was present in 30.6% of HS patients and in 16.1% of the controls subjects (P = 0.06). After a logistic regression analysis, elevated age was associated with the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis (P < 0.001), and HS showed a tendency towards this association [adjusted OR (95% CI) 3.8 (0.9-16.0), P = 0.066]. This association was statistically significant between patients 40 years and older [OR (95% CI) 4.9 (1.8-13.1)]. CONCLUSIONS: Our clinical results indicate that patients with HS have a higher prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis than expected when correcting for traditional risk factors. The findings support the conclusions of previous epidemiological studies.

Management of patients with hidradenitis suppurativa. / Manejo del paciente con hidradenitis supurativa.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease with a high prevalence in the population. Treatment options are both medical and surgical. Medical treatment is based on the use of antibiotics, retinoids, and anti-inflammatory drugs, in which anti-TNFα agents (infliximab y adalimumab) play a central role in the treatment of moderate-to-severe HS and enjoy the highest level of scientific support. Currently, adalimumab is the only drug approved in the summary of product characteristics for the treatment of this disease. Due to the scarcity of clinical trials in HS, there is still no therapeutic guideline backed by solid evidence and the evidence for most drugs is low. However, early treatment in patients with HS would probably reduce the complications of this disease. This review analyses the distinct treatments used in this dermatological disease and provides a therapeutic algorithm with different treatment options.

An Update on Hidradenitis Suppurativa (Part I): Epidemiology, Clinical Aspects, and Definition of Disease Severity.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory disorder that has attracted increasing attention in recent years due to underestimations of prevalence and the considerable impact of the condition on interpersonal relationships, physical appearance, self-esteem, and body image. Although hidradenitis suppurative has a significant psychological impact on patients and can even cause physical limitations when thick scarring results in limb mobility limitation, until very recently little evidence was available relating to its epidemiology, etiology, or pathogenesis. In this review, we highlight the latest advances in our understanding of the epidemiological and clinical aspects of hidradenitis suppurativa. We will also look at the different classification systems for hidradenitis suppurativa and discuss the emergence of skin ultrasound as a promising technique for monitoring the course of this chronic inflammatory disease.

Update on Hidradenitis Suppurative (Part II): Treatment.

Although hidradenitis suppurativa is a common and serious skin condition, its treatment is not well established. It is now accepted that the moderate and severe forms of the disease are associated with marked systemic inflammation. The goal of treatment in hidradenitis suppurative is therefore to achieve systemic control of inflammation. In some cases, surgery may also be necessary to reduce the severity of the manifestations of cutaneous inflammation. Recent advances in our understanding of hidradenitis suppurativa have been accompanied by the emergence of novel approaches to its treatment, including the use of certain biologic drugs. Several clinical trials have been undertaken to test the effects of biologics (mainly adalimumab) in this setting. In this review, we analyze the different treatments available for hidradenitis suppurativa.

Tacalcitol in the treatment of acquired perforating collagenosis.

Acquired perforating collagenosis (APC) is a rare perforating dermatosis characterized by transepidermal collagen elimination. We describe a 65-year-old patient, with long-standing type 2 diabetes mellitus and a 2-year history of itchy hyperkeratotic nodules situated on the back, who was subsequently diagnosed with APC. Treatment included topical corticosteroids and antihistamines, without improvement of the lesions. However, therapy with topical tacalcitol administered for 2 months produced a significant response leading to complete remission of APC.