title: Adalimumab for the treatment of moderate to severe Hidradenitis suppurativa: a parallel randomized trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, painful skin disease characterized by abscesses, nodules, and draining fistulas in the axilla and groin of young adults.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of adalimumab, an anti-tumor necrosis factor-α antibody, in patients with moderate to severe HS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Phase 2, parallel, randomized, placebo-controlled trial consisting of a blinded 16-week period (period 1) and an open-label 36-week period (period 2). All study personnel, investigators, and patients remained blinded to treatment group throughout the study. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00918255)
  
  
  METHODS
  26 academic and private practice medical centers in the United States and Europe.
  
  
  METHODS
  154 adult patients with moderate to severe HS who were unresponsive or intolerant to oral antibiotics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to adalimumab, 40 mg/wk; adalimumab, 40 mg every other week (EOW); or placebo. All patients received adalimumab, 40 mg EOW, at the beginning of period 2 but switched to weekly dosing if the response was suboptimal (HS Physician's Global Assessment [PGA] score of moderate or worse) at weeks 28 or 31.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome measure (clinical response) was the proportion of patients achieving an HS-PGA score of clear, minimal, or mild with at least a 2-grade improvement relative to baseline at week 16.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At week 16, 3.9% of placebo patients (2 of 51), 9.6% of EOW patients (5 of 52), and 17.6% of weekly patients (9 of 51) achieved clinical response (EOW vs. placebo strata-adjusted difference, 5.6% [95% CI, -4.0% to 15.3%]; P = 0.25; weekly vs. placebo strata-adjusted difference, 13.7% [CI, 1.7% to 25.7%]; P = 0.025). Serious adverse event rates were 3.9%, 5.8%, and 7.8% for placebo, EOW, and weekly patients, respectively (EOW vs. placebo difference, 1.8% [CI, -6.4% to 10.1%]; weekly vs. placebo difference, 3.9% [CI, -5.2% to 13.0%]). Significantly greater improvements in patient-reported outcomes and pain were seen in the weekly dosing group than in the placebo group. A decrease in response was seen after the switch from weekly to EOW dosing in period 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weeks 16 to 52 of the study were open-label. The study was not powered to assess the risk for known serious adverse effects of adalimumab, such as tuberculosis, other serious infections, and demyelinating disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adalimumab dosed once per week alleviates moderate to severe HS.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Abbott Laboratories.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Unit for Research Trials and Outcomes in Skin, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 50 Staniford Street, No. 246, Boston, MA 02114, USA. harvardskinstudies@partners.org
authors.forename: Alexa B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Kimball
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kerdel
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mrowietz
authors.forename: Joel M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gelfand
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gniadecki
authors.forename: Errol P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Prens
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schlessinger
authors.forename: Christos C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Zouboulis
authors.forename: Hessel H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: van der Zee
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
authors.forename: Parvez
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mulani
authors.forename: Yihua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paulson
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okun
authors.forename: Gregor B E
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Jemec
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017497:Hidradenitis Suppurativa / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000068879:Adalimumab