Long-term results of acitretin therapy for hidradenitis suppurativa
Boer J, Nazary M; British Journal of Dermatology (Sep 2010)
Tags: acitretin isotretinoin Pain Management
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Long-term results of acitretin therapy for hidradenitis suppurativa;
Boer J, Nazary M; British Journal of Dermatology (Sep 2010)
Tags: acitretin isotretinoin Pain Management
Read/Add Comments | Email This | Print This | PubMed
Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a distressing chronic inflammatory skin disorder which affects predominantly the groins and axillae. In analogy to acne, oral isotretinoin has been considered in the treatment of HS, although there are strong indications that this drug has only a very limited therapeutic effect. The past 25 years scattered case reports described promising results of treatment with acitretin. Objectives: To evaluate the long-term efficacy of acitretin monotherapy. Methods: A retrospective study in twelve patients with severe, recalcitrant hidradenitis who were treated with acitretin for nine to twelve months at one Dermatology Centre in the Netherlands between the years 2005 and 2007 and were followed up to four years. The patients were selected on gender (men) and infertile women. The efficacy of the treatment was rated by the patients on global maximum pain of nodules and abscesses on a visual analogue scale (VAS) as well and physician global assessment. Results: All the twelve patients achieved remission and experienced a significant decrease in pain as assessed by VAS. In nine patients long-lasting improvement was observed, with no recurrence of lesions after half an year (n=1), one year (n=3), more than two years (n=2), more than three years (n=2) and more than four years (n=1). Conclusions: Acitretin appears to be an effective treatment for refractory HS, leading to reduction of pain from painful nodules and the extent of the disease for a prolonged period.
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