title: Ustekinumab in hidradenitis suppurativa: clinical results and a search for potential biomarkers in serum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is difficult and the search for effective therapies continues.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of ustekinumab and to discover a potential biomarker for HS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen patients were included in this open-label study and treated with 45 or 90 mg ustekinumab at weeks 0, 4, 16 and 28. Proteomic technology and enzyme-linked assay analysis was applied to sera.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve patients completed the protocol. Moderate-to-marked improvement of the modified Sartorius score was achieved in 82% of patients at week 40 and the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response 50 in 47%. With regard to the expression of 54 serum proteins, at baseline, a significant difference was observed between patients and healthy controls. Involved pathways were related to inflammation, immune cell signalling and tissue morphology/development. Good responders had milder disease and lower expression of leukotriene A4-hydrolase (LTA4H). Interleukin (IL)-2R, tumour necrosis factor-α, IL-17A and IL-17F were not elevated and did not change during treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of patients improved with ustekinumab. Although no biomarker was discovered, low LTA4H concentrations with mild disease severity may be predictive of the effectiveness of ustekinumab.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Blok
authors.affiliation: Janssen Research and Development, LLC, Spring House, PA, U.S.A.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Janssen Research and Development, LLC, Spring House, PA, U.S.A.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brodmerkel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Analytical Biochemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Horvátovich
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Jonkman
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Horváth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004851:Epoxide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D017497:Hidradenitis Suppurativa / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000069549:Ustekinumab / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D016207:Cytokines; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D004851:Epoxide Hydrolases; D000069549:Ustekinumab; C043134:leukotriene A4 hydrolase