Photodynamic therapy for Hidradenitis Suppurativa/acne inversa: Case report

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdpdt.2018.04.014Get rights and content

Highlights

  • PDT can be applied in treatment of Hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa (HS/AI).

  • Optical fiber therapy can be applied in treatment of lesions at sinus tracts.

  • More PDT treatments contributes to a good clinical efficacy.

Abstract

Hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa (HS/AI) is a type of chronic suppurative inflammatory reaction of the hair follicles characterized by recurrent dermal abscesses, sinus tracts and scars. So far, there has not been any prospective study proving the efficacy and safety of photodynamic therapy for the disease. In this report, one case of HS/AI achieved resolution of skin lesions, ulcer healing and disappearance of symptoms after nine treatments with 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT).

Introduction

Hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa (HS/AI) is a chronic recurrent inflammatory debilitating skin disease of the hair follicles that usually presents after puberty with pain. It usually appears in armpits, groins, crissum, vulva and other areas with rich apocrine sweat glands [1,2]. In this report, ALA-PDT achieves a good efficacy in one case of HS/AI after nine treatments.

Section snippets

Case report

The patient, male, 19 years old, unmarried, came to our hospital to seek treatment of recurrent red papules and abscesses at his head, face, armpits and groins, which had struck him over the past 10 years and been worsened recently. Half a year ago, he suffered dense grain-size pustules accompanied by pain at his lower mandible with no clear inducement, which later extended to bilateral armpits and groins and grew into abscesses with a diameter of 0.5–3 cm; Some of the abscesses formed sinus

Discussion

Hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa (HS/AI) is a long-term, distressing skin condition showing multiple painful abscesses, fistulas, and keloids in several skin areas. In clinic, HS/AI is hard to treat. It is usually treated with tretinoin, antibiotics and glucocorticoid and surgically treated through local excision and suture or skin transplantation. Clinically, PDT can be applied in treating acne, with a significant efficacy [3,4]. In this case of HS/AI, PDT was adopted due to its

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