Inflammatory markers, leukocyte show promise in evaluating hidradenitis suppurativa severity

A set of inflammatory markers and leukocyte profiles can help establish the disease severity in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa, according to a study.

In the study, researchers examined the medical records of 404 hidradenitis suppurativa patients seen at the Einstein/Montefiore HS Center, Bronx, New York. They assessed the reliability of C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and leukocyte profiles as indicators of disease severity.

Logistic regression analysis facilitated examination of the associations of disease severity (HS-Physician Global Assessment) with inflammatory markers and leukocyte profiles. Estimates were adjusted for baseline gender, age, body mass index, and smoking status.

Compared with those who had mild-to-moderate disease, patients with severe hidradenitis suppurativa had elevated levels of CRP (odds ratio [OR], 1.87, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.49–2.34), ESR (OR, 1.04, 95 percent CI, 1.03–1.04), IL-6 (OR, 1.08, 95 percent CI, 1.00–1.16).

Severe disease was also associated with increased leukocytes (OR, 1.22, 95 percent CI, 1.14–1.31), neutrophils (OR, 1.31, 95 percent CI, 1.20–1.42), eosinophils (OR, 14.40, 95 percent CI, 2.97–69.74), basophils (OR, 2.53, 95 percent CI, 1.09–5.85), monocytes (OR, 5.36, 95 percent CI, 2.49–11.53), and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratios (OR, 1.63, 95 percent CI, 1.35–1.96), but decreased lymphocytes (OR, 0.86, 95 percent CI, 0.68–1.10).

The findings show the potential of inflammatory markers and leukocyte profiles as critical laboratory measures to clinically determine disease severity over time.