Evidence for a 'window of opportunity' in hidradenitis suppurativa treated with adalimumab: a retrospective, real-life multicentre cohort study

BACKGROUND The anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α adalimumab is the only licenced biologic for moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). No predictors of response have been identified so far. OBJECTIVES To identify clinical parameters predicting response to adalimumab and confirm its efficacy/safety. METHODS The data of 389 patients with HS treated with adalimumab in 21 Italian centres were reviewed. Sex, age at onset/diagnosis/baseline, body mass index, smoking, phenotype, previous treatments, concomitant antibiotics and 'therapeutic delay', defined as the time from HS onset to adalimumab initiation, were assessed. Response to adalimumab and its impact on quality of life (QoL) wer…