Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Anesthesiology Cardiology Dermatology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology and Hepatology General Medicine Geriatrics Hematology Infectious Diseases Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Obstetrics and Gynecology Oncology Ophthalmology Pediatrics Psychiatry Radiology Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery Urology
Congress Coverage
ASH 2024 Annual Meeting 2024 ESMO Congress 2024 ERS Congress 2024 EASD Congress 2024 ESC Congress 2024 EAN Congress 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting 2024 ACC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Podcast | Sexual health in older age

Dr Holly Thomas helps us unpack the needlessly taboo subject of sex and sexual health in women of older age.

Listen now
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology
Published in:

18-12-2024 | Acne Inversa | Review Article

Obesity in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Are GLP-1 Receptor Agonists the New Frontier?

Authors: Jennifer Strong, Marcia S. Driscoll

Published in: American Journal of Clinical Dermatology | Issue 2/2025

Login to get access

Abstract

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an inflammatory skin disorder presenting with painful and draining nodules in intertriginous areas that may progress to sinus tracts. There is an increased prevalence of obesity in HS, and obesity may predispose patients to HS. Weight loss has been associated with improvement of HS symptoms. However, weight loss through diet modification, exercise or bariatric surgery has mixed results. Recently, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists have been investigated for weight loss in HS. These drugs are effective for weight loss and reduce weight-related comorbidities, with few significant side effects. Early studies of liraglutide and semaglutide in HS have demonstrated improvement in disease severity and quality of life. GLP-1 receptor agonists are a promising therapy for patients with HS and may improve symptoms through decreased mechanical stress and moderation of inflammation.
Literature
1.
Scala E, Cacciapuoti S, Garzorz-Stark N, Megna M, Marasca C, Seiringer P, et al. Hidradenitis suppurativa: where we are and where we are going. Cells. 2021;10:2094.PubMedPubMedCentral
2.
Ingram JR. The genetics of hidradenitis suppurativa. Dermatol Clin. 2016;34:23–8.PubMed
3.
Wright S, Strunk A, Garg A. New-onset depression among children, adolescents, and adults with hidradenitis suppurativa. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020;83:1360–6.PubMed
4.
Kokolakis G, Wolk K, Schneider-Burrus S, Kalus S, Barbus S, Gomis-Kleindienst S, et al. Delayed diagnosis of hidradenitis suppurativa and its effect on patients and healthcare system. Dermatol Basel Switz. 2020;236:421–30.
5.
Witte-Händel E, Wolk K, Tsaousi A, Irmer ML, Mößner R, Shomroni O, et al. The IL-1 pathway is hyperactive in hidradenitis suppurativa and contributes to skin infiltration and destruction. J Invest Dermatol. 2019;139:1294–305.PubMed
6.
Cartron A, Driscoll MS. Comorbidities of hidradenitis suppurativa: a review of the literature. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2019;5:330–4.PubMedPubMedCentral
7.
Naik HB, Jo J-H, Paul M, Kong HH. Skin microbiota perturbations are distinct and disease severity-dependent in hidradenitis suppurativa. J Invest Dermatol. 2020;140:922-925.e3.PubMed
8.
Maronese CA, Moltrasio C, Genovese G, Marzano AV. Biologics for hidradenitis suppurativa: evolution of the treatment paradigm. Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2024;20:525–45.PubMed
9.
Shalom G, Freud T, Harman-Boehm I, Polishchuk I, Cohen AD. Hidradenitis suppurativa and metabolic syndrome: a comparative cross-sectional study of 3207 patients. Br J Dermatol. 2015;173:464–70.PubMed
10.
Kjaersgaard Andersen R, Loft IC, Hansen T, Hjalgrim H, Rostgaard K, Banasik K, et al. Incidence and remission rates of self-reported hidradenitis suppurativa—a prospective cohort study conducted in Danish blood donors. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol JEADV. 2022;36:717–25.PubMed
11.
Balgobind A, Finelt N, Strunk A, Garg A. Association between obesity and hidradenitis suppurativa among children and adolescents: a population-based analysis in the United States. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020;82:502–4.PubMed
12.
van Straalen KR, Vanlaerhoven AMJD, Ardon CB, van der Zee HH. Body mass index at the onset of hidradenitis suppurativa. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges J Ger Soc Dermatol JDDG. 2021;19:437–9.
13.
Wright S, Strunk A, Garg A. Trends in body mass index before and after diagnosis of hidradenitis suppurativa. Br J Dermatol. 2021;185:74–9.PubMed
14.
Bettoli V, Naldi L, Cazzaniga S, Zauli S, Atzori L, Borghi A, et al. Overweight, diabetes and disease duration influence clinical severity in hidradenitis suppurativa–acne inversa: evidence from the national Italian registry. Br J Dermatol. 2016;174:195–7.PubMed
15.
Sartorius K, Emtestam L, Jemec GBE, Lapins J. Objective scoring of hidradenitis suppurativa reflecting the role of tobacco smoking and obesity. Br J Dermatol. 2009;161:831–9.PubMed
16.
Mintoff D, Benhadou F, Pace NP, Frew JW. Metabolic syndrome and hidradenitis suppurativa: epidemiological, molecular, and therapeutic aspects. Int J Dermatol. 2022;61:1175–86.PubMed
17.
Macklis PC, Tyler K, Kaffenberger J, Kwatra S, Kaffenberger BH. Lifestyle modifications associated with symptom improvement in hidradenitis suppurativa patients. Arch Dermatol Res. 2022;314:293–300.PubMed
18.
Fernandez JM, Marr KD, Hendricks AJ, Price KN, Ludwig CM, Maarouf M, et al. Alleviating and exacerbating foods in hidradenitis suppurativa. Dermatol Ther. 2020;33: e14246.PubMed
19.
Long V, Tham S-L, Choi EC-E, Chandran NS. Exercise recommendations for hidradenitis suppurativa patients. Skin Appendage Disord. 2023;9:392–6.PubMedPubMedCentral
20.
Bouwman K, Moazzen S, Kroah-Hartman M, Dijkstra G, Horváth B, Alizadeh BZ. Diet and physical activity as risk-reducing factors for hidradenitis suppurativa. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2024;38:910–9.PubMed
21.
Lorite-Fuentes I, Montero-Vilchez T, Arias-Santiago S, Molina-Leyva A. Potential benefits of the mediterranean diet and physical activity in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa: a cross-sectional study in a Spanish population. Nutrients. 2022;14:551.
22.
Kromann C, Ibler KS, Kristiansen V, Jemec GBE. The Influence of body weight on the prevalence and severity of hidradenitis suppurativa. Acta Derm Venereol. 2014;94:553–7.PubMed
23.
Chierici A, Bulsei J, Alromayan M, Alamri A, Pavone G, Fontas E, et al. Bariatric surgery reduces the incidence of hidradenitis suppurativa in individuals with obesity: results of a nationwide administrative data study in France. Surg Obes Relat Dis Off J Am Soc Bariatr Surg. 2024;S1550–7289(24):00121–7.
24.
Garcovich S, De Simone C, Giovanardi G, Robustelli E, Marzano AV, Peris K. Post-bariatric surgery hidradenitis suppurativa: a new patient subset associated with malabsorption and micronutritional deficiencies. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2019;44:283–9.PubMed
25.
Javorsky E, Kimball AB. Hidradenitis suppurativa: patient experiences with bariatric surgery. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013;68:AB89–AB89.
26.
Baggio LL, Drucker DJ. Biology of incretins: GLP-1 and GIP. Gastroenterology. 2007;132:2131–57.PubMed
27.
28.
Pi-Sunyer X, Astrup A, Fujioka K, Greenway F, Halpern A, Krempf M, et al. A randomized, controlled trial of 3.0 mg of liraglutide in weight management. N Engl J Med. 2015;373:11–22.PubMed
29.
Wadden TA, Hollander P, Klein S, Niswender K, Woo V, Hale PM, et al. Weight maintenance and additional weight loss with liraglutide after low-calorie-diet-induced weight loss: the SCALE Maintenance randomized study. Int J Obes. 2013;37:1443–51.
30.
Kelly AS, Auerbach P, Barrientos-Perez M, Gies I, Hale PM, Marcus C, et al. A randomized, controlled trial of liraglutide for adolescents with obesity. N Engl J Med. 2020;382:2117–28.PubMed
31.
32.
FDA approves new drug treatment for chronic weight management, first since 2014. US Food Drug Adm. 2021.
33.
Kushner RF, Calanna S, Davies M, Dicker D, Garvey WT, Goldman B, et al. Semaglutide 2.4 mg for the treatment of obesity: key elements of the STEP trials 1 to 5. Obes Silver Spring Md. 2020;28:1050–61.
34.
Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S, Davies M, Van Gaal LF, Lingvay I, et al. Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity. N Engl J Med. 2021;384:989–1002.PubMed
35.
Lincoff AM, Brown-Frandsen K, Colhoun HM, Deanfield J, Emerson SS, Esbjerg S, et al. Semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in obesity without diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2023;389:2221–32.PubMed
36.
FDA approves first treatment to reduce risk of serious heart problems specifically in adults with obesity or overweight. US Food Drug Adm. 2024.
37.
38.
Jastreboff AM, Aronne LJ, Ahmad NN, Wharton S, Connery L, Alves B, et al. Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity. N Engl J Med. 2022;387:205–16.PubMed
39.
Rubino DM, Greenway FL, Khalid U, O’Neil PM, Rosenstock J, Sørrig R, et al. Effect of weekly subcutaneous semaglutide vs daily liraglutide on body weight in adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes: The STEP 8 randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2022;327:138–50.PubMedPubMedCentral
40.
Popoviciu M-S, Păduraru L, Yahya G, Metwally K, Cavalu S. Emerging role of GLP-1 agonists in obesity: a comprehensive review of randomised controlled trials. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24:10449.PubMedPubMedCentral
41.
42.
Xu X, Lin L, Chen P, Yu Y, Chen S, Chen X, et al. Treatment with liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue, improves effectively the skin lesions of psoriasis patients with type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2019;150:167–73.PubMed
43.
Lin L, Xu X, Yu Y, Ye H, He X, Chen S, et al. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist liraglutide therapy for psoriasis patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized-controlled trial. J Dermatol Treat. 2022;33:1428–34.
44.
Ahern T, Tobin A-M, Corrigan M, Hogan A, Sweeney C, Kirby B, et al. Glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue therapy for psoriasis patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol JEADV. 2013;27:1440–3.PubMed
45.
Buysschaert M, Baeck M, Preumont V, Marot L, Hendrickx E, Van Belle A, et al. Improvement of psoriasis during glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue therapy in type 2 diabetes is associated with decreasing dermal γδ T-cell number: a prospective case-series study. Br J Dermatol. 2014;171:155–61.PubMed
46.
Faurschou A, Gyldenløve M, Rohde U, Thyssen JP, Zachariae C, Skov L, et al. Lack of effect of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist liraglutide on psoriasis in glucose-tolerant patients–a randomized placebo-controlled trial. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol JEADV. 2015;29:555–9.PubMed
47.
Nicolau J, Nadal A, Sanchís P, Pujol A, Nadal C, Masmiquel L. Effects of liraglutide among patients living with psoriasis and obesity. Med Clin (Barc). 2023;161:293–6.PubMed
48.
Jennings L, Nestor L, Molloy O, Hughes R, Moriarty B, Kirby B. The treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa with the glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist liraglutide. Br J Dermatol. 2017;177:858–9.PubMed
49.
Khandalavala BN. A disease-modifying approach for advanced hidradenitis suppurativa (regimen with metformin, liraglutide, dapsone, and finasteride): a case report. Case Rep Dermatol. 2017;9:70–8.PubMedPubMedCentral
50.
Nicolau J, Nadal A, Sanchís P, Pujol A, Masmiquel L, Nadal C. Liraglutide for the treatment of obesity among patients with hidradenitis suppurativa. Med Clin (Barc). 2024;162:118–22.PubMed
51.
Lyons D, Louly Nathan A, Pender E, Murray G, Smith C, Kirby B, et al. Semaglutide for weight loss in people with obesity as an adjunctive treatment for hidradenitis suppurativa: its impact on disease control and quality of life. Br J Dermatol. 2024;191:631–3.
52.
53.
Wong CK, McLean BA, Baggio LL, Koehler JA, Hammoud R, Rittig N, et al. Central glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor activation inhibits Toll-like receptor agonist-induced inflammation. Cell Metab. 2024;36:130-143.e5.PubMed
54.
Mehdi SF, Pusapati S, Anwar MS, Lohana D, Kumar P, Nandula SA, et al. Glucagon-like peptide-1: a multi-faceted anti-inflammatory agent. Front Immunol. 2023;14:1148209.PubMedPubMedCentral
55.
Drumm C, Clowry J, Healy M-L, Wynne B. 42762 Successful treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa with semaglutide. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2023;89:AB89.
Metadata
Title
Obesity in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Are GLP-1 Receptor Agonists the New Frontier?
Authors
Jennifer Strong
Marcia S. Driscoll
Publication date
18-12-2024
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology / Issue 2/2025
Print ISSN: 1175-0561
Electronic ISSN: 1179-1888
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-024-00911-x

Other articles of this Issue 2/2025

A Maximum-Use Trial of Ruxolitinib Cream in Children Aged 2–11 Years with Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis

Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: An Update

Individualized Neoantigen-Directed Melanoma Therapy

Biomarkers in Atopic Dermatitis: A Review of the Role of IL-13 and the Impact of Tralokinumab Treatment

Real-World Experience of Bimekizumab for Plaque Psoriasis in Adult Patients with Prior Exposure to Interleukin-23 Inhibitors: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

The Impact of Family History on Clinical Presentation and Biologic Treatment Response in Patients with Psoriasis: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study