IPL with radiofrequency does not show clinical significance in hidradenitis suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa patients treated with intense pulsed light with radiofrequency had a statistically significant, but not clinically important, improvement in quality of life, according to a study.

“Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by painful inflammatory nodules, sinus tracts and scarring with a significant impact on patient quality of life,” Alexis B. Lyons, MD, of the Henry Ford Health System, and colleagues wrote. “Intense pulsed light (IPL) and radiofrequency (RF) have previously been reported as potential noninvasive treatments for HS.”

This study included 10 patients with bilateral HS who received three passes of IPL and RF per treatment session to one body region for nine or 10 treatment sessions.

Nine subjects completed the treatments, with seven completing a final follow up 2 weeks after their tenth treatment.

Mean overall DLQI improved by 2.8 points, which was found to be statistically significant (P = .043).

However, Hidradenitis Suppurativa Physician Global Assessment, International Hidradenitis Suppurativa Severity Score and achievement of Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response did not show statistically significant improvement between the treatment sides and the control sides.

In addition, the median DLQI change was not clinically significant.

“Despite some success in previous studies using IPL and RF described in some studies, there was no statistically significant clinical improvement in this study when comparing changes in scores from baseline to final visit between the treatment and control sides,” the authors wrote.

“Nevertheless, the device was well-tolerated by patients with HS and this technology may still hold promise, given other studies showing success.”