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Metformin as Adjunctive Therapy for Pediatric Patients With Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Christine Moussa, Lisa Wadowski, Harper Price

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology : JDD
    |December 21, 2020
    PubMed

    Insights

    Metformin may improve hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) control in some adolescents. This study found adjunctive metformin therapy showed minimal side effects in pediatric HS patients, but more research is needed.

    Area of Science:

    • Dermatology
    • Pharmacology
    • Pediatrics

    Background:

    • Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition affecting adolescents and adults.
    • Current treatments offer suboptimal control, especially in pediatric populations, with no established guidelines.
    • Limited data exists on therapeutic options for pediatric HS.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To assess the efficacy and safety of metformin as an add-on treatment for adolescent HS patients.
    • The study focused on patients who had not responded to standard HS therapies.
    • Evaluation was conducted at a single institution.

    Main Methods:

    • A retrospective chart review of 16 pediatric HS patients treated with metformin was performed.
    • Patients' baseline and follow-up severity scores (Hurley stages) were analyzed.
    • Adverse events and reasons for discontinuation were recorded.

    Main Results:

    • Eleven patients (69%) had Hurley stage 1 and five (31%) had Hurley stage 2 at baseline.
    • Post-treatment, six patients (67%) were Hurley 1 and three (33%) were Hurley 2.
    • Five patients experienced improved HS control with reduced flare frequency; five showed no improvement. Two discontinued due to side effects.

    Conclusions:

    • Metformin may offer adjunctive benefits for managing pediatric HS with a favorable side effect profile for some patients.
    • Further rigorous, controlled studies are necessary to confirm metformin's efficacy, tolerability, and safety in pediatric HS.
    • The role of metformin in pediatric HS requires additional investigation.
    Abstract

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