1
Return

Assessing Disease Progression in Hurley I Hidradenitis Suppurativa Patients: A Nested Case-Control Study

delete2026-02-01
delete0
PRE
AI
R
Rodriguez-Sanna, Andrea Isabel
C
Castro-Martin, Julia
M
Munoz-Barba, Daniel
S
Soto-Moreno, Alberto
U
Urena-Paniego, Clara
G
Garcia-Moronta, Carmen
H
Haselgruber, Sofia
L
Leon-Perez, Francisco Javier
A
Arias-Santiago, Salvador *
M
Molina-Leyva, Alejandro
DOI:10.1159/000550322delete
deleteOriginal
deleteOriginal request for help
deleteShare
deleteSave
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Introduction: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, progressive, inflammatory skin disease that leads to structural skin alterations, usually assessed using Hurley stages. In Hurley stage I, the earliest phase, structural changes have not yet occurred. However, disease progression varies among patients; some remain indefinitely in this stage, while others advance to more severe forms. The incidence and factors driving progression remain unclear. The aims of this study were to determine the incidence of Hurley II and III cases in a cohort of Hurley I patients and to explore potential factors and interventions associated with structural progression. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in Hurley I patients to estimate the cumulative incidence and incidence density of Hurley II-III cases during follow-up. Consecutively, within the cohort of Hurley I patients, a nested case-control study was performed to identify factors associated with structural progression. Patients underwent clinical and ultrasound evaluations. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results: The study included 133 Hurley I patients evaluated consecutively at the HS unit between January 2017 and March 2024. Mean age was 37.54 (12.87) years, with a female-to-male ratio of 84:49. Regarding progression, cumulative incidence was 50 cases (37.6%) (49 to Hurley II; 1 to Hurley III) and incidence density was 23 cases/100 patients-years. After multivariate analysis, the following variables were significantly and independently associated with progression to Hurley stage: higher number of cigarettes/day (p = 0.009), Hurley Ic stage (p = 0.05), and the increase in abscess count from baseline (categorical) (p = 0.0003). A higher number of abscess drainages (p = 0.047) was associated with a lower risk of progression. Conclusion: These findings suggest that clinical features, smoking habits, and treatment-related variables may help identify those patients more likely to progress. Further studies with larger and more representative cohorts are needed to validate these associations. Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a long-lasting skin disease that causes painful lumps under the skin, often in areas like the armpits or groin. The disease can get worse over time, leading to tunnels under the skin and scarring. Doctors classify HS in stages, from Hurley stage I (mild) to Hurley stage III (severe). In stage I, patients usually have isolated lumps without deeper skin damage. However, not all people with stage I HS stay at that stage. Some patients develop more serious disease over time. In this study, we looked at how often that happens and what factors might predict if a person's HS will get worse. We followed 133 people with stage I HS over several years. We found that about one-third of them moved on to more severe stages. We also looked at which characteristics were linked to this worsening. People who smoked more cigarettes per day, had certain patterns of disease, or developed more painful lumps over time were more likely to progress. Interestingly, people who had more abscesses drained (a procedure to remove pus from lumps) were less likely to get worse. This study shows that some early-stage HS patients are at higher risk of their disease progressing. Paying close attention to certain clinical features and managing inflammation early may help prevent more serious disease.
Keywords:
Hidradenitis suppurativa
Tunnel formation
Abscess punch drainage
Disease progression
Hurley stage

Journal

D
Dermatology
IF:
2.7
Papers:
5.0K
Citations:
6.2K

Organization

H
hospital universitario virgen de las nieves
Scholars:
2.8K
Papers: 1.7K
Citations: 2
Cited Papers

Cited Papers

Citing Papers

Citing Papers