Andrea Chiricozzi, Giulia Giovanardi, Simone Garcovich, Dalma Malvaso, Giacomo Caldarola, Barbara Fossati, Cristina Guerriero, Clara De Simone, Ketty Peris
DOI: 10.2340/00015555-3520

Ultrasonography has proven useful for diagnosis and treatment monitoring in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical response to adalimumab using ultrasound findings. This prospective study collected data on demographic features, disease severity, and hidradenitis suppurativa findings from patients with hidradenitis suppurativa treated with adalimumab. Generalized estimating equations investigated relationships between disease severity measures and clinical/demographic variables. The study included a total of 41 patients with hidradenitis suppurativa who were treated with adalimumab for a mean period of 50.8 ± 32.2 weeks; range 6–108 weeks). Clinical improvement was observed during adalimumab therapy, with a progressively greater number of patients achieving HiSCR50 response (36.4% at week 52). Disease duration was identified as the most relevant clinical variable affecting disease severity and treatment response. Treatment response was also influenced by treatment duration, with a 4% greater likelihood of achieving HiSCR50 response at each time-point. At the ultrasound examination, subcutaneous involvement of hidradenitis suppurativa lesions was identified as a predictive negative factor for clinical response to adalimumab (HiSCR50 achievement).

Adalimumab is the only biologic therapy approved for the treatment of patients with hidradenitis suppurativa, a chronic and disabling skin condition. This study assessed the effectiveness and safety of adalimumab treatment. The results show that having long duration of disease at the time of starting adalimumab therapy is a negative factor impacting on clinical response. By performing ultrasonography evaluation on skin lesions, hypodermal involvement of hidradenitis suppurativa lesions was identified as a negative predictive factor for clinical response to adalimumab.