High dose, high frequency ustekinumab therapy for patients with severe hidradenitis suppurativa

Ustekinumab in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a frequently debilitating, inflammatory skin condition. Patients may have a limited response to adalimumab, currently the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved biologic treatment for HS. Ustekinumab is an interleukin-12/23 inhibitor that has been utilized in HS, but there is a lack of an updated systematic review on its efficacy and safety. The aim of this study is to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature on the efficacy and safety of ustekinumab for HS.

METHODS

In October 2022, MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched for articles on ustekinumab in HS. Data extraction was performed on relevant articles by two reviewers. The primary study outcome was the pooled response rate of HS to ustekinumab. A fixed-effects meta-analysis was performed, and Cochran's Q statistic and I squared index were used to assess heterogeneity. Statistical significance was determined at p < 0.05. This article is based on previously conducted studies and does not contain any new studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

RESULTS

From 2012 to 2022, ten articles (nine case series and one prospective trial) with 88 patients met the inclusion criteria. Patients with reported disease severity had Hurley stage II (17.6%, 12/68) or III (82.4%, 56/68) disease. The majority (80.7%, 71/88) had previously failed at least one biologic treatment. A meta-analysis of all ten studies showed a pooled response rate of 67% (95% CI 0.57-0.76). Study limitations include a small number of patients and randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

CONCLUSIONS

Ustekinumab may be a helpful treatment option to consider for HS that is recalcitrant to first-line biologic therapies, but RCTs are needed to determine optimal dosing regimens and the specific patient populations that would benefit the most from this agent.

Biologics for Hidradenitis suppurativa: evolution of the treatment paradigm

INTRODUCTION

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an autoinflammatory skin disease with a high unmet need for effective medical management. Clinically, it is characterized by inflammatory nodules that may progress into abscesses, draining tunnels and extensive scarring, mainly affecting apocrine gland-bearing areas.

AREAS COVERED

Treatment options include topical and systemic medications and a variety of surgical procedures. The anti-TNF-α antibody adalimumab and the anti-IL-17 secukinumab are the only two approved biologics for HS, showing moderate efficacy. HS research is a rapidly growing field, with a wide range of agents leveraging distinct mechanisms of action currently under development. Drugs targeting the IL-17 and Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathways are the most advanced in both ongoing and completed Phase 3 studies, promising deeper levels of response. Use of other, off-label biologics is also discussed.

EXPERT OPINION

A therapeutic algorithm is proposed based on comorbidities and existing evidence. Patient-tailored combinations between biologics and other biologics or small molecules will hopefully allow clinicians to target most events in HS pathophysiology in a complementary way while obtaining a meaningful effect on their devastating manifestations.

Taiwanese Dermatological Association (TDA) consensus recommendations for the definition, classification, diagnosis, and management of hidradenitis suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory follicular disease characterized by painful, recurrent, inflamed lesions most commonly occurring in the axillary, inguinal, and anogenital regions. HS can inflict immense physical and psychological impact on patients who suffer from this distressing disease. Management of HS generally requires combining various medical and procedural treatment modalities; however, the disease is often recalcitrant to conventional treatments. In light of recent evidence supporting the effectiveness of biologic agents in the treatment of HS, the Taiwanese Dermatological Association established an expert panel of nine dermatologists to develop consensus statements aimed to provide up-to-date evidence-based guidance in optimizing HS patient management in Taiwan. The recommendations described in the statements were summarized in a management algorithm in terms of general care, topical treatment, systemic treatment, and procedural treatment.

Adalimumab, Ustekinumab, and Secukinumab in the Management of Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Review of the Real-Life Experience

To date, adalimumab (ADA) is the only biotechnology drug approved for the management of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), an inflammatory skin condition. However, it quickly became apparent that the efficacy of adalimumab in daily practice was highly variable. In our review, we highlighted the current evidence from literature on the use of biologics in HS in a real-life setting, particularly adalimumab, secukinumab and ustekinumab. Data on the effectiveness and safety of biologic drugs in HS management have been analyzed. Even if the results are promising, more studies are needed. In our opinion, the armamentarium of drugs for HS management is increasing, and treatment will be based on a tailored-tail approach, minimizing the risk of adverse events. In this context, we want to point out the reported effectiveness and safety data concerning adalimumab, ustekinumab and secukinumab as well as ixekizumab.

Paradoxical hidradenitis suppurativa due to anti-interleukin-1 agents for mevalonate kinase deficiency successfully treated with the addition of ustekinumab

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) as a paradoxical adverse event (PAE) from using anti-interleukin (IL)-1 has not been reported in the literature, to our knowledge. We herein report a case of paradoxical HS as a result of use of anti-IL-1 agents for mevalonate kinase deficiency disease that was successfully treated with the addition of ustekinumab.

Novel and Off-Label Biologic Use in the Management of Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Pyoderma Gangrenosum, Lichen Planus, and Seborrheic Dermatitis: A Narrative Review

With advances in drug development and our understanding of the pathophysiology of skin disease, biologic medications have emerged as powerful management tools for dermatologists. While biologics have most often been used in the management of psoriasis, they are being used off-label for the management of a variety of other immune-mediated skin diseases with overlapping molecular targets. This narrative review focuses on the novel and off-label use of biologic medications for the management of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), pyoderma gangrenosum (PG), lichen planus (LP), and seborrheic dermatitis (SD). Review of the literature revealed that IL-17, IL-23, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors were being used across a variety of immune-mediated skin pathologies with variable efficacy, among other targeted biologics. While biologics were generally safe in the treatment of primary immune-mediated skin disorders, paradoxical disease eruptions were noted with biologic use and were theorized to occur owing to immune dysregulation and cytokine imbalance. While numerous case reports show promise for the use of biologics in immune-mediated skin pathologies, the variable efficacy and safety reported warrants more thorough investigations of the role of these targeted medications in comprehensive disease management.