Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with
insulin resistance (IR),
metabolic syndrome and increased cardiovascular risk.
Adipokines are biologically active, pleotropic molecules which have been involved in the development of IR and in the pathogenesis of several chronic inflammatory conditions. The aim of the present study was to analyze serum concentrations of
adiponectin,
leptin,
resistin and
visfatin in patients with HS, and investigate their possible associations with IR, HS risk and disease severity. This case-control study enrolled 137 non-diabetic individuals (76 HS-patients and 61 age and sex-matched controls). Serum concentrations of
adiponectin,
leptin,
resistin and
visfatin, and the homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) were measured in all the participants. Serum
adiponectin concentrations were found to be significantly lower, and
leptin,
resistin and
visfatin levels were significantly higher in HS-patients than in controls. These differences remained significant even after adjusting for age, sex and body mass index, except for
leptin. In a multivariate regression analysis, HOMA-IR was inversely correlated with
adiponectin and positively associated with
resistin levels. Furthermore, serum levels of
resistin and
visfatin were independently associated with HS risk. However, we found no association between serum levels of
adipokines and HS severity. Our results suggest that reduced
adiponectin and increased
resistin serum levels may be surrogate
biomarkers for IR in patients with HS. Moreover,
resistin and
visfatin might be independent risk factors for the development of HS.