A Single Center, Prospective Clinical Trial of Intravenous Ertapenem in the Treatment of Hurley Stage II or III Hidradenitis Suppurativa

: Treatment of chronic, recalcitrant HS presents significant challenges and frustration to both the patient and the provider. In chronic, recalcitrant HS, wide surgical excision is considered the treatment of choice.13 In 2016, Join-Lambert et al investigated the use of intravenous (IV) ertapenem in 30 patients with severe, refractory HS.14 One gram of ertapenem daily for 6 weeks followed by consolidation antibiotics for 6 months demonstrated promising results in severe, recalcitrant HS.14 These patients reported significant improvements in pain, purulent drainage, and a decrease in handicap score.14 Additionally, this technique is less invasive than surgical excision.

Study Overview

• Status: Withdrawn
• Conditions: Hidradenitis Suppurativa
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Ertapenem

Detailed Description

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, socially and cosmetically debilitating disease characterized by recurrent abscesses, draining sinus tracts, and scarring with a predilection for intertriginous skin folds.1 The lesions are painful and can drain malodorous fluid, leaving patients uncomfortable and self-conscious.1 It is not surprising that HS has a high degree of morbidity or that these patients have among the lowest quality of life scores of all skin disease.2-5

The pathophysiology of HS is not fully understood. It is thought to be multifactorial.1 The primary insult is believed to be follicular occlusion with hyperkeratinization and rupture of the follicle followed by bacterial colonization and biofilm formation.1 Most cultures of HS lesions are polymicrobial and commonly grow gram positive bacteria and anaerobes.6,7 A recent study observed evidence of biofilms in chronic HS lesions.8 Lesions with bacterial biofilms respond to antibiotics initially then demonstrate resistance as the bacteria develop metabolic adaptations and produce a protective layer, the extracellular matrix.1,8 This results in persistent, recalcitrant lesions.6 Lesions are difficult to treat and present significant frustration to both the patient and the provider.

The efficacy of antibiotics in HS has been explored. Antibiotics are commonly first line therapy in HS.1,9 Rifampicin, clindamycin, and tetracycline have successfully treated HS lesions.10,11 Other effective antibiotics include: carbapenems, fluoroquinolones, and penicillins with β-lactamase inhibitors.9 Triple therapy with oral rifampin, moxifloxacin, and metronidazole has been proposed.12 Although frequently successful in early stage disease, this regimen is less effective in Hurley stage II and III HS.12 Patients with Hurley stage II and III HS rarely experience remission on antibiotics alone. In chronic, recalcitrant HS, wide surgical excision is considered the treatment of choice.13 The Hurley Staging system is commonly utilized to classify the severity of a patient's hidradenitis suppurativa. Stage 1 disease consists of one or more abscesses with no sinus tract formation or scarring. Stage 2 disease involves one or more widely separated recurrent abscesses, with formation of a sinus tract and/or scarring. Stage 3 involves multiple interconnected sinus tracts and/or abscesses throughout an anatomical area.

In 2016, Join-Lambert et al investigated the use of intravenous (IV) ertapenem in 30 patients with severe, refractory HS.14 One gram of ertapenem daily for 6 weeks followed by consolidation antibiotics for 6 months demonstrated promising results in severe, recalcitrant HS.14 These patients reported significant improvements in pain, purulent drainage, and a decrease in handicap score.14 In this study, we propose the use of ertapenem for management of Hurley stage 2 and 3 hidradenitis suppurativa as a less invasive means of treating HS. The primary endpoint will be to determine the role of ertapenem in achieving Hidradenitis Suppurativa clinical response (HiSCR) at 6 weeks. HiSCR is defined as HS Clinical Response with ≥ 50% reduction from baseline in AN (total abscess and inflammatory nodule) count with no increase in abscess or in draining fistula counts. Secondary endpoints include a change in DLQI score from baseline to the end of week, work productivity and activity impairment (WPAI) outcome from baseline to the end of week six, C- reactive protein and hemoglobin from baseline to the end of 6 weeks, the change in HS-LASI from baseline to the end of week 6, and ultrasound changes from baseline to the end of week 6.

Study Synopsis

1. PURPOSE: To determine the clinical efficacy of ertapenem for the treatment of Hurley stage 2 and 3 hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). We will be assessing safety and tolerability of this medication. We will be evaluating the effect this medication has on patient's quality of life.

2. SPECIFIC AIMS:

1. To determine the role of ertapenem in achieving Hidradenitis Suppurativa clinical response (HiSCR) at 6 weeks. HiSCR is defined as HS clinical response of ≥ 50% reduction from baseline in AN (total abscess and inflammatory nodule) count with no increase in abscess or in draining fistula counts.
2. To determine the change in DLQI score from baseline to the end of week 6.
3. To determine work impairment using the questionnaire work productivity and activity impairment- specific health problem (WPAI-SHP)
4. To determine the mean change in C- reactive protein and hemoglobin from baseline to the end of week 6.
5. To determine the change in modified HS-LASI from baseline to the end of week 6.
6. To determine ultrasound changes from baseline to the end of week 6.

3. RATIONALE FOR THE PROJECT: Treatment of chronic, recalcitrant HS presents significant challenges and frustration to both the patient and the provider. In chronic, recalcitrant HS, wide surgical excision is considered the treatment of choice.13 In 2016, Join-Lambert et al investigated the use of intravenous (IV) ertapenem in 30 patients with severe, refractory HS.14 One gram of ertapenem daily for 6 weeks followed by consolidation antibiotics for 6 months demonstrated promising results in severe, recalcitrant HS.14 These patients reported significant improvements in pain, purulent drainage, and a decrease in handicap score.14 Additionally, this technique is less invasive than surgical excision.

4. SIGNIFICANCE: This study will provide insight into the utility of ertapenem which can serve as a therapeutic, less invasive option to treat patients with refractory, Hurley stage 2 and 3 hidradenitis suppurativa.

• Study Type: Observational

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Michigan
    • Detroit, Michigan, United States, 48202
      • Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Medical Center, 3031 West Grand Boulevard,

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

HS patients

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age ≥ 18
2. Diagnosis of Hurley Stage II or III HS
3. Be otherwise healthy with no history of renal impairment
4. Participant must be able to understand the requirements of the study and risks involved
5. Participant must be able to sign a consent form
6. Baseline abscess and inflammatory nodule count (AN count) of 3 or more and draining fistula count of 20 or fewer
7. Unresponsive or intolerant to oral antibiotics for HS treatment as determined by the caregiver
8. Patient must be unstable with worsening inflammatory manifestations of HS
9. Diagnosis of HS for at least 6 mo (180 day) before baseline that involves at least 2 distinct anatomical areas (ex: left and right axillae)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Any reason the investigator feels the patient should not participate in the study.
2. If a patient misses ≥ 2 consecutive study visits, the patient will be excluded from further participation in this trial.
3. History of an allergy to an antibiotic in the penicillin class.
4. If the investigator feels that a different therapeutic option would be more beneficial to the patient
5. Any other skin disease or condition (e.g. infectious or non-infectious) that may interfere with assessment of HS.
6. History of any medical condition, in the opinion of the investigator, that would put the subject at risk by participating in this study.
7. Subjects who have received biologic medications must wait 3 weeks or 21 days prior to enrollment in this research study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
ertapenem treatment	Drug: Ertapenem; Patients will receive ertapenem therapy.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
HiSCR	1. To determine the role of ertapenem in achieving Hidradenitis Suppurativa clinical response (HiSCR) at 6 weeks. HiSCR is defined as HS clinical response of ≥ 50% reduction from baseline in AN (total abscess and inflammatory nodule) count with no increase in abscess or in draining fistula counts.	6 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
DLQI	To determine the change in DLQI score from baseline to the end of week 6	6 weeks
WPAI-SHP	To determine work impairment using the questionnaire work productivity and activity impairment- specific health problem (WPAI-SHP)	6 weeks
Labs	To determine the mean change in C- reactive protein and hemoglobin from baseline to the end of week 6.	6 weeks
HS-LASI	To determine the change in modified HS-LASI from baseline to the end of week 6.	6 weeks
Ultrasound	To determine ultrasound changes from baseline to the end of week 6.	6 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Henry Ford Health System

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 1, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 7, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): August 7, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 16, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 16, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): February 24, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 24, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 16, 2022
• Last Verified: February 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Sweat Gland Diseases; Skin Diseases; Infections; Bacterial Infections; Bacterial Infections and Mycoses; Skin Diseases, Infectious; Suppuration; Skin Diseases, Bacterial; Hidradenitis Suppurativa; Hidradenitis; Anti-Infective Agents; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Ertapenem
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB11628

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No