title: Increased interleukin (IL)-17 serum levels in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa: Implications for treatment with anti-IL-17 agents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biologics seem to offer a promising nonsurgical approach in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), especially in disease with highly pronounced inflammation. Recent studies revealed increased expression of a broad range of cytokines in lesional HS skin, including interleukin (IL)-17.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to determine IL-17 serum levels in this group of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our study was conducted on a group of 86 patients between 16 and 72 years of age with HS. A total of 86 matched healthy volunteers constituted the control group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits were used to quantify IL-17 serum concentration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean IL-17 serum level of patients with HS was 3.68 ± 2.08 pg/mL, which was significantly elevated (P < .0001) compared with that found in healthy volunteers (2.5 ± 1.11 pg/mL). Moreover, there was a tendency toward higher serum concentrations of IL-17 in patients with more advanced disease (P = .005). Disease duration; patient sex, age, and body mass index; and smoking habits were not determining factors for IL-17 serum concentration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hospital-based study population was a limitation, as was a lack of posttreatment assessment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In light of our findings and literature on increased expression of IL-17 in HS lesions, evaluating the clinical effectiveness of using anti-IL-17 agents in the treatment of patients with HS is justified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland. Electronic address: luke71@interia.pl.
authors.forename: Łukasz
authors.initials: Ł
authors.lastname: Matusiak
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szczęch
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bieniek
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nowicka-Suszko
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Szepietowski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D017497:Hidradenitis Suppurativa / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D020381:Interleukin-17
keywords: acne inversa; biologics; brodalumab; hidradenitis suppurativa; interleukin 17; ixekizumab; secukinumab; treatment