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Intense pulsed light treatment for hidradenitis suppurativa: a within-person randomized controlled trial

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  • Published:
European Journal of Dermatology

Abstract

Background

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease of the intertriginous areas. HS affects hair follicles causing perifollicular inflammation, resulting in the formation of nodules and painful abscesses. Intense pulsed light (IPL) uses selective photothermolysis to destroy the hair follicles.

Objectives

To evaluate the effect of IPL hair removal as treatment for mild-to-moderate HS.

Materials & Methods

We conducted a single-blinded, clinical randomized trial with patients with Hurley Stage I-II. Patients with symmetrical disease were randomized to monthly unilateral treatment of the axilla or groin. The contralateral side served as internal control. Concomitant treatment modalities for HS were not permitted throughout the study. Efficacy was assessed using Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response (HiSCR), modified Sartorius score (MSS) and patient-reported outcomes.

Results

A total of 17 patients completed the trial and were included in the analysis. HiSCR was not evaluated in patients without abscesses or inflammatory nodules pre-treatment. HiSCR was insignificantly different between the intervention side (8/12) and control side (4/10), P=0.467. There was, however, a significant reduction in regional MSS on the intervention side with a median score decreasing from 8.5 (IQR: 6.3–13.5) to 4.5 (IQR 1.8–8.0) post-treatment, P=0.006, and an insignificant score reduction in the control side from 6.0 (IQR: 4.5–8.3) to 5.0 (IQR: 2.5–9.0), post-treatment P=0.492.

Conclusion

IPL hair removal resulted in a significant reduction on MSS on the treated area with no significant reduction on the control side. Our study suggests that IPL may be an effective treatment for mild-to-moderate HS.

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Immunology, Naestved Hospital; Health Sciences Faculty, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Pernille Lindsø Andersen

  2. Department of Dermatology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde; Health Sciences Faculty, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Pernille Lindsø Andersen, Peter Theut Riis, Linnea Thorlacius, Viktoria Sigsgaard, Christina Wilken Nielsen, Lana Chafranska, Christine Westergaard, Gregor Borut Jemec & Ditte Marie Saunte

  3. Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Gregor Borut Jemec & Ditte Marie Saunte

Authors
  1. Pernille Lindsø Andersen
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  2. Peter Theut Riis
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  3. Linnea Thorlacius
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  4. Viktoria Sigsgaard
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  5. Christina Wilken Nielsen
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  8. Gregor Borut Jemec
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  9. Ditte Marie Saunte
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pernille Lindsø Andersen.

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Acknowledgements and disclosures

Acknowledgements: we thank the patients who participated in this study. Conflicts of interest: none Financial support: PTR received support from the Region Zealand Research Fund. PLA received a PhD grant from LEO Foundation (grant no.: LF 18002) and Naestved, Slagelse and Ringsted Hospital’s Research Fund. GB Jemec has received honoraria from AbbVie, Coloplast, Pfizer, Pierre Fabre, Inflarx, MSD, Novartis and UCB for participation on advisory boards, and grants from Abbvie, Leo Pharma, Novartis, Janssen-Cilag, Regeneron, UCB, and Sanofi for participation as an investigator, and received speaker honoraria from AbbVie, Galderma, and Leo Pharma. DMLS was paid as a consultant for advisory board meetings by AbbVie, Janssen, Sanofi and received speaker’s honoraria and/or received grants from the following companies: Bayer, Abbvie, Desitin, Pfizer, Galderma, Novartis and Leo Pharma during the last five years.

This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with identifier: NCT03203122

European Reference Network for Rare and Complex Diseases of the Skin (ERN-Skin) member

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Lindsø Andersen, P., Riis, P.T., Thorlacius, L. et al. Intense pulsed light treatment for hidradenitis suppurativa: a within-person randomized controlled trial. Eur J Dermatol 30, 723–729 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2020.3920

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2020.3920

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