Dr. Haley Naik, a dermatologist from the University of California, San Francisco, told Reuters Health by email, “The interesting observation in this study is that biologic agents, many of which are used to treat hidradenitis suppurativa, may also have a role in inducing HS in susceptible individuals.”
“HS is a prevalent and oftentimes debilitating condition that is poorly understood and understudied,” explained Dr. Naik, who was not involved in the study. “As a result, effective treatments for this disease are limited. Treatments such as topical and oral antibiotics, oral retinoids and biologic agents, in addition to surgical intervention, have been used for management of HS, but as yet, no uniformly effective therapy exists for this disease.”
“The possible role biologic agents may play in inducing HS in susceptible individuals is intriguing and needs to be further explored,” Dr. Naik concluded. “This is a really exciting time in HS research and treatment. Importantly, as we deepen our understanding of HS, we have the opportunity to develop more effective treatment for patients.”
Dr. Faivre did not respond to a request for comments.