Intralesional triamcinolone for flares of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS): A case series

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the hair follicle. Standard practice of managing acute flares with corticosteroid injection lacks scientific evidence.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess the outcomes of routine treatment using intralesional triamcinolone (triamcinolone acetonide 10 mg/mL) in the management of acute flares in HS.

METHODS: This was a prospective case series evaluating the effect of intralesional corticosteroids for alleviation of acute flares in HS. Physician- and patient-reported outcomes were noted.

RESULTS: Significant reductions in physician-assessed erythema (median score from 2-1, P < .0001), edema (median score from 2-1, P < .0001), suppuration (median score from 2-1, P < .0001), and size (median score from 3-1, P < .0001) was demonstrated at follow-up. A significant difference in patient-reported pain visual analog scale scores occurred after 1 day (from 5.5-2.3, P < .005) and from day 1 to day 2 (from 2.3-1.4, P < .002).

LIMITATIONS: Small study size, open single-arm design, and short follow-up time are the limitations of this study.

CONCLUSION: Intralesional injection of corticosteroids is perceived as beneficial by physicians and patients in the management of HS flares by reducing pain after 1 day and signs of inflammation approximately 7 days later.