Treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa evaluation study: the THESEUS prospective cohort study

Ingram, John R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5257-1142, Bates, Janine, Cannings-John, Rebecca ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5235-6517, Collier, Fiona, Gibbons, Angela, Harris, Ceri, Hood, Kerenza ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5268-8631, Howells, Laura, Howes, Rachel, Leighton, Paul, Riaz, Muhammad ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5512-1745, Rodrigues, Jeremy, Stanton, Helen, Thomas, Kim S. and Thomas-Jones, Emma ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7716-2786 2023. Treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa evaluation study: the THESEUS prospective cohort study. Health Technology Assessment 27 , 30. 10.3310/HWNM2189

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Abstract

Background Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterised by recurrent inflammatory lesions and skin tunnels in flexural sites such as the axilla. Deroofing of skin tunnels and laser treatment are standard hidradenitis suppurativa interventions in some countries but not yet introduced in the United Kingdom. Objective To understand current hidradenitis suppurativa management pathways and what influences treatment choices to inform the design of future randomised controlled trials. Design Prospective 12-month observational cohort study, including five treatment options, with nested qualitative interviews and an end-of-study consensus workshop. Setting Ten United Kingdom hospitals with recruitment led by dermatology and plastic surgery departments. Participants Adults with active hidradenitis suppurativa of any severity not adequately controlled by current treatment. Interventions Oral doxycycline 200 mg once daily; oral clindamycin and rifampicin, both 300 mg twice daily for 10 weeks initially; laser treatment targeting the hair follicle (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet or alexandrite); deroofing; and conventional surgery. Main outcome measures Primary outcome was the proportion of participants who are eligible, and hypothetically willing, to use the different treatment options. Secondary outcomes included proportion of participants choosing each of the study interventions, with reasons for their choices; proportion of participants who switched treatments; treatment fidelity; loss to follow-up rates over 12 months; and efficacy outcome estimates to inform outcome measure instrument responsiveness. Results Between February 2020 and July 2021, 151 participants were recruited, with two pauses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Follow-up rates were 89% and 83% after 3 and 6 months, decreasing to 70% and 44% at 9 and 12 months, respectively, because pandemic recruitment delays prevented all participants reaching their final review. Baseline demographics included an average age of 36 years, 81% female, 20% black, Asian or Caribbean, 64% current or ex-smokers and 86% with a raised body mass index. Some 69% had moderate disease, 19% severe disease and 13% mild disease. Regarding the study’s primary outcome, laser treatment was the intervention with the highest proportion (69%) of participants who were eligible and hypothetically willing to receive treatment, followed by deroofing (58%), conventional surgery (54%), the combination of oral clindamycin and rifampicin (44%) and doxycycline (37%). Considering participant willingness in isolation, laser was ranked first choice by the greatest proportion (41%) of participants. The cohort study and qualitative study demonstrated that participant willingness to receive treatment was strongly influenced by their clinician. Fidelity to oral doxycycline was only 52% after 3 months due to lack of effectiveness, participant preference and adverse effects. Delays receiving procedural interventions were common, with only 43% and 26% of participants commencing laser therapy and deroofing, respectively, after 3 months. Treatment switching was uncommon and there were no serious adverse events. Daily pain score text messages were initiated in 110 participants. Daily responses reduced over time with greatest concordance during the first 14 days.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Medicine Centre for Trials Research (CNTRR)
Publisher:	NIHR Journals Library
ISSN:	1366-5278
Funders:	NIHR HTA
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 December 2023
Date of Acceptance:	20 December 2023
Last Modified:	09 Jan 2024 12:20
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/165107

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