Combined Treatment Of Hidradenitis Suppurativa With Intense Pulsed Light (Ipl) And Radiofrequency (Rf)

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory disease with high burden. Treatment options are often unsatisfactory. We assessed the effect of a combination therapy of intense pulsed light (IPL) and radiofrequency (RF). Methods: The explorative study included 47 patients and was performed as a prospective, monocentric, randomized, three-arm parallel-group design trial with a prior 12?weeks observation period. Treatment arms were IPL and RF monotherapies or IPL?+?RF combination therapy. After 12?weeks, all patients received IPL?+?RF for additional 12?weeks (cross-over). Primary endpoint was the change in active lesion numbers, secondary endpoint the change in Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DLQI). Results: After 12?weeks, active lesion counts of the IPL?+?RF group decreased more than in the IPL group (p?=?.044); the decrease in DLQI was significantly higher in the IPL?+?RF and RF groups compared to IPL. Prolonged 24-week treatment with IPL?+?RF obtained better results as 12?weeks. Overall, disease burden after 24?weeks of treatment compared to disease fluctuation during the observation period was significantly lower (change in active lesions ?3.6, p?=?.001; in DLQI ?5.2, p?=?.003). Conclusions: IPL?+?RF treatment appears to represent a promising therapeutic option that leads to reduction of disease activity without severe side effects.