Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, debilitating disease with a profound impact on the quality of life of patients. OBJECTIVES: To describe a rare case of HS with postmenopausal onset, to review the literature data regarding late onset HS and to discuss the current knowledge on the role of endocrine abnormalities in the development of HS. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 68-year-old patient in whom HS occurred 10 years after menopause. She was referred to our clinic for the presence of an open fistula on the left groin, fibrotic scars and visible alteration of the vulvar anatomy due to numerous surgical interventions. The patient shared features of the metabolic syndrome (obesity, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, aortic atherosclerosis), but showed no signs of virilism and no hormonal abnormality. HS was controlled using antiseptics, topical retinoids and antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: This case is of particular interest given the late onset of HS, long time after menopause. The development of HS requires a complex interaction between genetic predisposing factors, endocrine dysregulation, metabolic alterations, bacterial overgrowth and an aberrant inflammatory response. Evidence points to an important role of sex-hormones in the emergence and progression of the disease, but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. A better understanding of HS pathogenesis is needed to elucidate the precise way in which endocrine factors influence the disease onset and course. This would guide the way to novel therapies and a better control of this challenging disease.