Increased prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS).
BACKGROUND
Chronic inflammatory diseases have been associated with increased prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis. Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease involving intertriginous skin.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to investigate the potential association between HS and subclinical atherosclerosis.


METHODS
This study included 68 patients with HS and 136 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. Patients with history of cardiovascular events, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, or another concomitant inflammatory condition were excluded. Carotid intima-media thickness and carotid plaques were measured by carotid ultrasonography. Adjustments were made for age, sex, and traditional cardiovascular risk factors.


RESULTS
Patients had greater carotid intima-media thickness values than control subjects (0.615 ± 0.097 vs 0.578 ± 0.098 mm; P = .012). Carotid plaques were also more frequent in patients than in control subjects (30.9% vs 22.1%). In the multivariable regression model adjusted for age, sex, and traditional cardiovascular risk factors, HS was significantly related to the presence of carotid plaques (odds ratio 2.99, 95% confidence interval 1.26-7.13; P = .013).


CONCLUSIONS
Causality could not be assessed.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate an increased frequency of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with HS. Accordingly, HS should be considered a disease associated with potentially increased cardiovascular risk.
Division of Dermatology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla, University of Cantabria, Santander, Cantabria, Spain. Electronic address: marcosg@aedv.es.
Marcos A
MA
González-López
Division of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla, University of Cantabria, Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
José L
JL
Hernández
Division of Dermatology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla, University of Cantabria, Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
Marina
M
Lacalle
Division of Rheumatology, Hospital Comarcal, Laredo, Cantabria, Spain.
Cristina
C
Mata
Division of Dermatology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla, University of Cantabria, Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
María
M
López-Escobar
Division of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla, University of Cantabria, Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
Raquel
R
López-Mejías
Division of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla, University of Cantabria, Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
Virginia
V
Portilla
Division of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla, University of Cantabria, Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
Patricia
P
Fuentevilla
Division of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla, University of Cantabria, Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
Alfonso
A
Corrales
Division of Pathology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla, University of Cantabria, Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
M Carmen
MC
González-Vela
Division of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla, University of Cantabria, Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
Miguel A
MA
González-Gay
Division of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla, University of Cantabria, Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
Ricardo
R
Blanco
D000328:Adult; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D017497:Hidradenitis Suppurativa / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
cardiovascular disease; carotid intima-media thickness; carotid plaque; carotid ultrasonography; hidradenitis suppurativa; subclinical atherosclerosis