Abstract
Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder primarily affecting intertriginous body areas. It is characterized by onset after puberty and a physical course with exacerbations and remissions. Available evidence points toward the existence of various factors contributing to the disease. Disorders of the follicular epithelium, derangements of immune response, genetic predisposition, cigarette smoking and obesity create a favorable background for disease development. Several case studies demonstrate moderate efficacy of TNF-α blockade therapies. Two open-label prospective studies showed favorable results. In the first, ten patients were treated with three infusions of infliximab; in the second, ten patients were administered etanercept 50 mg subcutaneously each week for 12 weeks.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.