Systemic associations of hidradenitis suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a progressive, inflammatory disease that affects mostly young women and appears to be caused by inflammation of hair follicles in areas of friction in the body (eg, the axillae, groin, perineum, and medial aspects of the thighs). Given this pathophysiology, one might expect comorbidities that contribute to inflammation and friction. Observed comorbidities fall into several categories: obesity and the metabolic syndrome, hormone-related disorders, deleterious health habits and mood, autoimmune disease, inflammatory disease and finally, the risk of skin cancer and sequelae of nonhealing wounds. The available literature on comorbid diseases of HS is limited but rapidly increasing. In this review, we summarize recent and major studies of HS disease association.