title: Improvement of overlapping hidradenitis suppurativa and ankylosing spondylitis after the introduction of adalimumab.
abstract: Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by occlusion of the follicular pilosebaceous units of the skin. The treatment options are sometimes very limited and unpleasant odor and abundant drainage complicate the disease. Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of seronegative spondyloarthritis with predominantly axial but also peripheral joint involvement. Both of the conditions lower the patient's quality of life and affect everyday activities. We describe a 39-year-old male patient with both diseases treated with different medications with only a modest result. After the initiation of a tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) inhibitor (adalimumab) the patient experienced first the musculoskeletal and later on the skin improvement. The introduction of TNF-α inhibitors should be considered early in the treatment of overlapping hidradenitis suppurativa and the spondyloarthritis spectrum of conditions. Available medical data confirm the positive results and beneficial effect on disease course, activity and, most importantly, quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Dubravka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bosnić
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, General Hospital "Dr. Josip Benčević", Slavonski Brod, Croatia.
authors.forename: Branimir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Žarković
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barešić
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Dermatology and Venerology, General Hospital "Dr. Josip Benčević", Slavonski Brod, Croatia.
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zarkovic
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Branimir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Anić
keywords: adalimumab; ankylosing spondylitis; hidradenitis suppurativa