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. 2022 Dec 3;23(23):15250.
doi: 10.3390/ijms232315250.

The Role of Hormones in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Systematic Review

Nessr Abu Rached  1 , Thilo Gambichler  1 , Johannes W Dietrich  2   3   4   5 , Lennart Ocker  1 , Caroline Seifert  1 , Eggert Stockfleth  1 , Falk G Bechara  1
Affiliations

The Role of Hormones in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Systematic Review

Nessr Abu Rached et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease manifesting in inverse body regions. In a systematic review, the role of hormones in HS will be presented to better understand the pathomechanisms of HS. The review is based on the PRISMA criteria. Systematic research was carried out using keywords. Subsequently, the data were analyzed based on the clinical response and other relevant information. The main focus of our systematic review was on HS manifestation, exacerbation, sex hormones, antiandrogen therapy, thyroid function, polycystic ovary syndrome, insulin resistance, and adipokines. In HS, there appears to be a dysregulated adipokine release that is shifted towards pro-inflammatory adipokines. Insulin resistance is significantly more common in HS than in healthy patients regardless of BMI, age, and gender. Insulin resistance in HS patients leads to further cardiovascular disease. The mechanism of insulin resistance and role of adipokines should be investigated in future studies to better provide the pathomechanisms of HS. The role of androgens seems to be important in a certain subgroup of female patients. Anti-androgenic therapy can be useful and helpful in some patients. However, further studies are needed to better understand the hormonal relationship in HS.

Keywords: acne inversa; adipokine; endocrinology; finasteride; hidradenitis suppurativa; hormones; insulin resistance; metformin; spironolactone; thyroid function.

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Conflict of interest statement

F.G.B. has received honoraria for participation in advisory boards, in clinical trials, and/or as a speaker from AbbVie Inc., AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Novartis Pharma GmbH, UCB Pharma, Incyte Corporation, and JanssenCilag GmbH, MoonLake. J.W.D. received funding and personal fees by Sanofi-Henning, Hexal AG, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Pfizer and is co-owner of the intellectual property rights for the patent “System and Method for Deriving Parameters for Homeostatic Feedback Control of an Individual” (Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Biomedical Sciences Institutes, Application Number 201208940-5, WIPO number WO/2014/088516). T.G. has received speakers and/or advisory board honoraria from BMS, Sanofi-Genzyme, MSD, Novartis Pharma, Roche, Abbvie, Almirall, Janssen, Lilly, Pfizer, Pierre Fabre, and Merck-Serono outside the submitted work. The other authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart with the research strategy in this systematic review.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic diagram with relationship between insulin resistance, adipokines, and HS.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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