Short-lived benefits seen with ertapenem in hidradenitis suppurativa

Improvement in pain associated with hidradenitis suppurativa was seen with ertapenem therapy, but relief was short-lived, according to a poster presented at the American Academy of Dermatology virtual meeting.

“Ertapenem, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, has shown promising outcomes in treating HS, including improved quality of life, pain control and reduction of drainage from lesions. However, long-term efficacy of this intravenous therapy remains uncertain,” the study authors wrote.

A retrospective chart review included seven subjects who received IV ertapenem therapy for a 6-week course.

Mean HS-Physician Global Assessment score decreased from 4.86 before treatment to 3.14 during treatment (P = .031). Mean pretreatment Numerical Rating Scale pain score was 7.14, which decreased to 1.14 during treatment (P = .016).

Within 1 month of ertapenem withdrawal, however, the mean NRS pain score was 5.43, while the post-treatment HS-PGA score was 3.43.

“The improvement of HS-PGA and NRS pain scores during treatment was short-lived, leading to recurrent disease within 1 month of ertapenem cessation,” the authors wrote. “Of clinical significance, three patients underwent an additional 6 weeks of IV ertapenem, all of whom experienced identical disease remediation compared to their first course of treatment.”