Clinical characteristics of a series of 302 French patients with hidradenitis suppurativa, with an analysis of factors associated with disease severity

Accepted 8 February 2009. published online 30 April 2009.

Background

Factors associated with the severity of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) are not known.

Objective

We sought to identify factors associated with the severity of HS.

Methodology

The severity of disease in a series of 302 consecutive patients with HS was assessed using the Sartorius score.

Results

Atypical locations were more common in men than in women (47.1% vs 14.8%; P < .001). Men also had more severe disease (median Sartorius score: 20.5 vs 16.5; P = .02). Increased body mass index (P < .001), atypical locations (P = .002), a personal history of severe acne (P = .04), and absence of a family history of HS (P = .06) were associated with an increased Sartorius score. The Sartorius score was highly correlated with the intensity and duration of pain and suppuration (all P values < .001).

Limitations

The referral center base of the study may have biased recruitment.

Conclusion

Our data showed a significant association between the severity of HS and several clinical and behavioral factors. Prospective studies are needed to confirm the prognostic role of these factors.

Key words: hidradenitis suppurativa, risk factors, sartorius score, severity

Abbreviations used: BMI, body mass index, HS, hidradenitis suppurativa, IQR, interquartile range

a Université Paris 12, LIC (Laboratoire d'Investigation Clinique) EA4393, Créteil F-94010, Créteil, France

b AP-HP (Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris), Groupe Henri-Mondor Albert Chenevier, Departement de Recherche Clinique et Santé Publique, Créteil F-94010, Créteil, France

c AP-HP (Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris), Groupe Henri-Mondor Albert Chenevier, Service de dermatologie, Créteil F-94010, Créteil, France

d AP-HP (Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris), Groupe Henri-Mondor Albert Chenevier, Unité de recherche clinique, Créteil F-94010, Créteil, France

e Hospices Civils de Lyon, Pole Information Medicale Evaluation Recherche, Université Lyon 1, Université de Lyon F-69003, Lyon, France

f Dermatology Department; CNAM (Centre National d'Appui contre la Maladie)-Ex Institut Marchoux BP 251 Bamako, Bamako, Mali

Correspondence to: Jean E. Revuz, MD, PhD, Dermatology Department, Université Paris XII, Hôpital Henri Mondor, 51 avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 94010 Créteil, France.

Funding sources: None.

Conflicts of interest: None declared.

Reprints not available from the authors.

PII: S0190-9622(09)00239-4

doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2009.02.013

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