An Open-Label, Prospective, Pilot Study of Hypertonic Saline for Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

BACKGROUND

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) fistulas are likely to persist without surgical intervention. Hypertonic saline (HTS), a venous sclerosant, disrupts the endothelial lining leading to occlusion and fibrosis when used for venous insufficiency.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of HTS sclerotherapy for HS fistulas.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: This Institutional review board-approved, nonrandomized, clinical trial included adult patients with a diagnosis of HS and at least one confirmed HS fistula who underwent HTS injections into their fistulas every two weeks followed by a 4-week follow-up period. The study was performed from 2016 to 2019 at two academic outpatient dermatology clinics in Boston, MA. Primary outcomes were physician-assessed improvement of HS fistula characteristics between final and baseline visits and physician-assessed HS improvement during course of study.

RESULTS

Overall, 21 patients participated. Physician-assessed overall HS improvement was significant between Visits 2 and 3 (p = .036). Drainage (p = .035), erythema (p = .008), and swelling (p = .025) demonstrated statistically significant improvement from baseline to final visit. Dermatology life quality index scores significantly improved from baseline to Visit 2 (p = .0005), Visit 3 (p = .0008), and final visit (p = .011). Numeric rating scale stinging scores increased with sclerosant volume.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated physician-reported and patient-reported improvement in fistulas following serial HTS injections. HTS injections were well tolerated.