Is Exploration of Alternate Immune Pathways Needed in Hidradenitis Suppurativa? A Case of Atopic Dermatitis and Concurrent Hidradenitis Suppurativa Responding to Dupilumab

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an inflammatory dermatosis associated with overactive T helper 1/T helper 17 (Th1/Th17) cells. HS has been effectively treated with biologic medications; however, many such biologics lack large randomized controlled trials. Only one such biologic, adalimumab, has bee...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sean McCormack, Noor Tazudeen, Benjamin C. Garden
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Dermatological Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/5189034
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Summary:Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an inflammatory dermatosis associated with overactive T helper 1/T helper 17 (Th1/Th17) cells. HS has been effectively treated with biologic medications; however, many such biologics lack large randomized controlled trials. Only one such biologic, adalimumab, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of HS. Other such biologics currently being studied for HS downregulate Th1/Th17 inflammatory pathways. We describe a patient with atopic dermatitis (AD) and comorbid HS, both of which improved several months into treatment with dupilumab. Interestingly enough, dupilumab targets Th2-mediated inflammatory skin conditions through the inhibition of IL-4/IL-13 cytokines. While dupilumab is known for its success in treating Th2-mediated inflammation, this presents a paradox as HS is a Th1/Th17 inflammatory condition. This case highlights how the inflammatory process of HS is not fully understood and how biologic pharmacologic interventions need to be further studied to determine their efficacy in treating HS.
ISSN:2090-6471