I.M. Miller

Meta-analysis of psoriasis, cardiovascular disease, and associated risk factors

BACKGROUND The possible connection between psoriasis with cardiovascular disease and associated risk factors has been implied, but inconsistent results have been reported. OBJECTIVE We sought to create an overview and statistical summary of the previous literature with elucidating subgroup analysis. METHODS This was a meta-analysis of observational studies using random effect statistics. A systematic search of observational studies of psoriasis as study variable and cardiovascular disease and associated risk factors as outcome, published before October 25, 2012, was conducted. RESULTS Of 835 references in the original search, 75 relevant articles were identified. We included 503,686 cases and 29,686,694 controls. Psoriasis was associated with cardiovascular disease in total (odds ratio [OR] 1.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-1.7), ischemic heart disease (OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.2-1.9), peripheral vascular disease (OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.2-1.8), atherosclerosis (OR 1.1; 95% CI 1.1-1.2), diabetes (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.5-2.5), hypertension (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.6-2.0), dyslipidemia (OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.4-1.7), obesity by body mass index (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.4-2.2), obesity by abdominal fat (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.2-2.3), and the metabolic syndrome (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.2-2.8), but not associated with cerebrovascular disease (OR 1.1; 95% CI 0.9-1.3) and cardiovascular mortality (OR 0.9; 95% CI 0.4-2.2). The strongest associations were seen in hospital-based studies and psoriatic arthritis. Population-based studies did not show significant associations, with the exception of dyslipidemia. LIMITATIONS The heterogeneity of the studies makes clinical interpretation challenging. CONCLUSIONS In aggregate, psoriasis was associated with ischemic heart disease and cardiovascular risk factors. The association was only significant for hospital-based studies, except for dyslipidemia, which was also significant in population-based studies.

A double‐blind placebo‐controlled randomized trial of adalimumab in the treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa

Background  Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) has an impact on patients’ quality of life. Treatment of HS is generally unsatisfactory, thus new treatments are needed.

The prevalence of inverse recurrent suppuration: a population‐based study of possible hidradenitis suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease involving inverse recurrent suppuration (IRS). The epidemiology of the disease is not well described, with previous studies reporting prevalence estimates from 0·00033% to 4%.

The bacteriology of hidradenitis suppurativa: a systematic review

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disabling skin disease consisting of recurrent nodules, sinuses, fistulas and scarring involving the intertriginous regions. HS is often a therapeutic challenge and most treatments are off‐label. A better understanding of aetiology and pathogenesis of HS may facilitate the development of effective treatment. Although the clinical presentation is strongly reminiscent of bacterial infection, the role of bacteria remains controversial. Studies have isolated an array of different bacteria specimens. Consistent findings of Gram‐positive cocci and Gram‐positive rods including Staphylococus aureus, coagulase‐negative staphylococci (CoNS) and Corynebacterium species in deep tissue samples have been demonstrated in HS and may constitute a central target for the immune system. Efficacy of antibiotics, that is rifampicin, clindamycin or tetracycline, supports a microbial role in disease pathogenesis. However, these antibiotics also work as immunomodulators of especially T cells, and the underlying mechanisms may therefore be more complex. We performed a systematic review of previous studies investigating the bacterial flora in hidradenitis suppurativa. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Royal Danish Library and Cochrane library (search date 11 December 2014). A total of 66 papers were identified and nine papers published between 1988 and 2014 matched our inclusion criteria, yielding bacteriological data of a total of 324 patients with HS (mean age 36.8 years and female/male ratio 215/109). This overview of the bacteriology may aid researchers and physicians exploring the potential role of bacteria in HS. Furthermore, to stimulate a broader debate, we also present different viewpoints on the possible role of bacteria in HS.

Quantifying cardiovascular disease risk factors in patients with psoriasis: a meta‐analysis

In a previous meta‐analysis on categorical data we found an association between psoriasis and cardiovascular disease and associated risk factors.

The Follicular Skin Microbiome in Patients With Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Healthy Controls

Importance Although the pathogenesis of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) remains enigmatic, several factors point to potential involvement of the cutaneous microbiome. Insight into the cutaneous microbiome in HS using next-generation sequencing may provide novel data on the microbiological diversity of the skin. Objective To investigate the follicular skin microbiome in patients with HS and in healthy controls. Design, Setting, and Participants This case-control study obtained punch biopsy specimens from patients with HS (lesional and nonlesional) and healthy controls between October 1, 2014, and August 1, 2016. Data were analyzed from March to November 2016. Patients with HS were recruited from the Department of Dermatology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark. Biopsy specimens were analyzed at the Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark. None of the participants received any antibiotics (systemic or topical therapy) within 1 month before the study. In patients with HS, biopsy specimens were obtained from lesional skin (axilla or groin) and nonlesional skin. Only nodules containing at least 1 visible hair follicle were biopsied. Biopsy specimens from healthy controls were obtained from the axilla only. Main Outcomes and Measures The different microbiomes were investigated using next-generation sequencing targeting 16S and 18S ribosomal RNA. Results The skin microbiome was characterized in 30 patients with HS (mean [SD] age, 46.9 [14.0] years; 19 [63% female]) and 24 healthy controls (mean [SD] age, 32.2 [12.0] years; 13 [54% female]). The next-generation sequencing data provided a previously unreported (to our knowledge) characterization of the skin microbiome in HS. The study demonstrated that the microbiome in HS differs significantly from that in healthy controls in lesional and nonlesional skin. Overall, the following 5 microbiome types were identified: Corynebacterium species (type I), Acinetobacter and Moraxella species (type II), Staphylococcus epidermidis (type III), Porphyromonas and Peptoniphilus species (type IV), and Propionibacterium acnes (type V). In lesional skin, microbiome types consisted predominantly of type I or type IV. Microbiome type IV was not detected in healthy controls. Several taxa, including Propionibacterium, showed a significantly higher relative abundance in healthy controls vs HS skin, indicating that Propionibacterium may be part of the pathogenesis in HS. Conclusions and Relevance The study findings suggest a link between a dysbiotic cutaneous microbiome and HS.

Factors related to pain during routine photodynamic therapy: a descriptive study of 301 patients

Background  Pain may be a limiting factor in the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT). The consequences of the pain i.e. the resources spent on pain‐intervention during routine PDT therapy are poorly described.

Bacterial Biofilm in Chronic Lesions of Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Chronic nonhealing or recurrent inflammatory lesions, reminiscent of infection but recalcitrant to antibiotic therapy, generally characterize biofilm‐driven diseases. Chronic lesions of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) exhibit several characteristics, which are compatible with well‐known biofilm infections.

The association of metabolic syndrome and psoriasis: a population‐ and hospital‐based cross‐sectional study

Psoriasis (PS) has been suggested to be associated with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in numerous studies with conflicting results. The vast majority of previous data were based on PS subjects from hospitals, and when based on data from the general population the PS subjects were often identified in insurance health databases. Furthermore, many studies used a single method approach, e.g. self‐reported diagnosis.

Normal Skin Microbiota is Altered in Pre-clinical Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease defined by recurrent nodules, tunnels (sinus tracts) and scarring involving the intertriginous regions. The clinical course of HS is compatible with a biofilm-driven disease, and biofilm has been described in lesional HS skin. We therefore hypothesized that clinically unaffected HS skin would also have an increased presence of biofilm compared with that of healthy controls. We conducted a case-control study, investigating the morphology of the axillary skin microbiota. Peptide nucleic acid - fluorescence in situ hybridization probes were used in combination with confocal laser scanning microscopy. Significant differences were found in both distribution and quantity of the cutaneous microbiota in clinically non-affected axillary skin of patients with HS compared with healthy controls. Surprisingly, we detected fewer bacteria and less biofilm in patients with HS. The reduced microbiota in patients with HS may play an important role in the early course of the disease.