The Correlation between Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Irritable Bowel Diseases: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an inflammatory skin condition that presents with nodules or abscesses associated with sinus tracts. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are inflammatory gastrointestinal (GI) conditions presenting with irregular bowel movements. Althoug HS and IBDs may have similarities in their clinical presentation and pathophysiology, they can differ in their cutaneous manifestations. Both conditions are potentially caused by genetic changes in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA), cause skin inflammation, and are characterized by abscesses in the GI and sinus tracts. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the extent of coincident IBD and HS and the associated risk factors. METHODS: The Ovid Medline database was searched for all current literature on the correlations between HS and IBD. Articles were then included and removed according to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, and a systematic review was performed on the remaining articles. RESULTS: Thirteen papers that met the inclusion and the exclusion criteria were selected, and after data collection, a significant correlation was found between the development of HS and IBD. Most of the articles reviewed stated that the corresponding association was a causal link between the two diseases. Furthermore, there were various risk factors and comorbidities associated with HS and the development of IBD, including smoking, obesity, perianal disease, and genetic predispositions such as HLA-B27 mutations. DISCUSSION: Studies show that there is a potential correlation with HS and IBDs. Additional research should to determine the genetic correlations between HS and IBDs and the underlying pathophysiological mechanism.