MON-590 An Analysis of Inflammatory and Metabolic Markers in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Preliminary Assessment of TNF-α

Abstract Disclosure: M. Blackwell: None. H. Bui: None. A.K. Zadu: None. C. Amechi: None. A. Rahman: None. G.A. Okoye: None. S. Andrisse: None. A.S. Byrd: None. Objective: To compare levels of TNF-α between Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) patients of different races and Hurley Stages pending Insulin, Leptin, and IL-6 analysis. Background: HS is an inflammatory disorder that disproportionately affects Black patients in the U.S. Its severity is measured by three Hurley Stages based on the extent of lesions, sinus tracts, and scarring. This study analyses TNF-α and IL-6 due to their inflammatory roles. Metabolic disorders and obesity are risk factors for HS,1 with hyperinsulinemia and hyperleptinemia linked to increased adipose tissue and hormonal resistance. Methods: Serum samples were collected from 54 HS patients at Howard University Department of Dermatology. Of 40 analyzable ELISA samples, 6 patients were in Hurley Stage 1, 12 in Stage 2, 17 in Stage 3, and 5 lacked Hurley Stage data. One patient was Asian, 31 were Black, 3 were Hispanic, and 5 were White. Results: Patients in Hurley Stage 2 had significantly lower TNF-α levels than those in Hurley Stage 1. TNF-α levels were similar within Black and White patients across all stages. However, White patients in Hurley Stage 3 had significantly higher TNF- α levels than Black patients across all stages. Results for other markers are pending. Discussion: This data suggests that White individuals in Hurley Stage 3 may experience more severe inflammation than Black individuals regardless of disease severity. These findings underscore the importance of studying HS across diverse demographics to understand its pathophysiology and guide targeted therapies. Future studies should include a racially diverse sample to enhance precision healthcare. References: 1.Katarzyna P. Kaleta, Georgios Nikolakis, Amir M. Hossini, Ottfried Balthasar, Daifallah Almansouri, Aristeidis Vaiopoulos, Jürgen Knolle, Anna Boguslawska, Anna Wojas-Pelc, Christos C. Zouboulis; Metabolic Disorders/Obesity Is a Primary Risk Factor in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: An Immunohistochemical Real-World Approach. Dermatology 10 March 2022; 238 (2): 251–259. https://doi.org/10.1159/000517017 Conflicts of Interest: No conflicts of interests to report. Presentation: Monday, July 14, 2025