Hidradenitis Suppurativa Managed With Adalimumab

2008 JDD Case Report Contest Winners

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a chronic, inflammatory, relapsing disease of the apocrine glands in the skin, commonly occurs in women aged 20 to 40 years. Patients typically present with discomfort and/or itching associated with papules or nodules that may recur and lead to abscess formation and sinus tracts. Recent reports have demonstrated that adalimumab, a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist, may be effective in the treatment of patients with HS who have failed conventional therapy. The authors describe 3 patients who experienced the resolution of skin lesions associated with HS after treatment with adalimumab. The patients found this treatment to be convenient, as they could administer the therapy at home, and 1 patient was able to avoid surgical intervention through use of TNF-antagonist therapy. Adalimumab may resolve symptoms of HS when conventional therapy fails. More studies are necessary to investigate the efficacy and safety of adalimumab for the treatment of HS.