Evaluation of Clinical Features and Laboratory Findings of Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Aim: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that clinically presents with recurrent inflamed follicular lesions, nodules, abscesses, and, in later stages, draining sinus tracts and scars in intertriginous areas. Due to the chronic, recurrent course of the disease, painful, malodorous lesions, fistula/ scar formation, and accompanying comorbidities, HS significantly reduces the quality of life and is associated with psychological impairment. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the general characteristics of patients with HS and the factors influencing their disease severity and psychosocial status. Materials & Methods: This retrospective descriptive study analyzed the medical records of 30 patients with HS. Sociodemographic data, general characteristics of the patients, clinical features of HS, and laboratory findings were noted. The patients were asked to fill out Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales (HADS) and Dermatology Life Quality Index. Results: Of 30 patients with HS, 16 (53.3%) were females, and 14 (46.7%) were males, with a mean age of 36.86 ± 12.62 years. According to the Hurley staging system, 26.7% of the patients had stage I, 60% had stage II, and 13.3% had stage III disease. The patients with perineal/scrotal and perianal involvement had a statistically significantly increased disease severity according to the Hurley staging system. A statistically significant relationship was found between the disease severity according to the Hurley staging system and the median CRP levels. CRP levels in the patients with Hurley stage III disease were significantly higher than those with Hurley stage I disease. The mean HADS-A and HADS-D scores in the patients with inguinal involvement were significantly higher than those without inguinal involvement. Also, the mean HADS-D scores of the patients with perianal involvement were significantly higher than those without perianal involvement. Conclusion: This study shows that the patients with perineal/scrotal and perianal involvement had significantly increased disease severity. Moreover, the patients with inguinal and perianal involvement had significantly higher anxiety and depression scores. Clinicians should be aware of the risk of depression and anxiety in patients with HS. Keywords: anxiety, depression, HADS, hidradenitis suppurativa, laboratory