Hydroxychloroquine for the Treatment of Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2019-06-30
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an under-recognized and debilitating disease. Patients
suffer from recurring painful abscesses and scarring in their armpits, under the breasts,
groin and other areas of the body. The cause of the disease is still unknown and common
treatments are only sometimes effective. Overactivity of the immune system has been
associated with HS and molecules that cause inflammation have been found in the skin from
people with HS. Current therapies have long-term risks including antibiotic resistance and
the investigators aim to find new safe and effective therapies for HS.
Hydroxychloroquine is a medication that has been used safely in other diseases for many
years. The investigators believe that hydroxychloroquine has the potential to improve HS
through multiple mechanisms. Patients enrolled in this study will be treated with
hydroxychloroquine for 6 months. The investigators also aim to look at the blood of patients
with HS to look for inflammatory molecules that we could possibly target for the treatment of
HS. Blood samples will be taken at baseline and following 6 months of treatment.